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Origin Of SARS Virus Discovered

by Medindia Content Team on Jun 1 2003 7:48 PM

Recent findings from the University of Hong Kong and the Shenzhen Disease Prevention and Control Center, have indicated that workers caught the virus from animals. The findings are observed form a study conducted on ten random workers at the market in Guangdong. About five out of the ten were found to have SARS antibodies, proving the presence of infection. But as none of them reported to be sick, thus suggesting that the workers had a mild infection.

The virus is thus believed to have deveopled in a mild form at first and later mutated before passing to others. Several days back scientists discovered that the fatal virus was found in mainly three species of mammals - badgers, civet cats and raccoon dogs. All were found in the Dongmen market (Guangdong's capital of Shenzhen).

Though the knew discovery of the origin of the virus may help to create a vaccine, a panel of international experts have been called in to assist future outbereaks. The panel comprises of about nine of the top medical experts from around the world, and are prepared to bring up their recommondations by September.


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