Zeev's Turnips Patch-No Politics (ZEEV)

[Bearmove]

Tech breaker?

China Says SARS May Return in Winter - Paper
Thu Sep 4,11:41 PM ET

Add Health - Reuters to My Yahoo!


BEIJING (Reuters) - China has called on doctors and citizens to take precautions against influenza this winter when the flu-like SARS (news - web sites) virus could return, the China Daily said on Friday.


Reuters Photo

Reuters

Slideshow: SARS


 In Yahoo! Health
Heartburn
Is it GERD?  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 More from Yahoo! Health:
 •  Check your symptoms  
 •  How is it diagnosed?  
 •  Learn about treatment  
 

Some medical experts have said Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, an epidemic which originated in south China in November and faded in July, may only be dormant while others fear there are milder, mutated versions that may still be circulating.


People should take "all possible measures to prevent influenza this autumn and winter which may also see the return of SARS," the newspaper said, quoting health authorities.


It did not elaborate.


But it quoted the authorities as saying they were also concerned that future flu cases and other respiratory diseases could be mistaken for SARS, which killed more than 800 people in 30 countries and infected thousands.


Hong Kong scientists said on Thursday genetic testing of animals sold as delicacies in a southern Chinese market had confirmed suspicions SARS jumped to humans from animals.


The researchers found clear differences between the animal and human strains of the virus, but said they were minor enough to show SARS came from animals, as influenza and other viruses had done.


The lead suspect was the palm civet, a raccoon-like animal eaten as delicacy.


The World Health Organization (news - web sites) said in August that China's decision to lift a ban on the sale of 54 exotic animals for food was premature.


China banned the sale of such animals in May when it declared war on SARS after being criticized for covering up the initial outbreak.


Many species of wild animals are kept, sold and butchered in unsanitary markets in southern China where residents with famously omnivorous appetites pay high prices to eat such delicacies.


SARS is caused by a coronavirus, a member of a family of viruses that causes cold-like symptoms in people and a wide range of diseases in animals.