New York, Sep 02: The deadly Sars outbreak, which claimed more than 800 lives world-over, could reappear as the source of the coronavirus that causes the disease remains unknown, the united nations food agency has warned and called for more research on the disease. "To date there is no evidence that farm animal species have been infected with Sars coronavirus found in humans," Rome-based UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a report yesterday.
The agency's warning is based on the report of Laurie Gleeson, a senior Australian veterinarian who returned recently from a three-week mission to China, the country which was hit hard by the epidemic.
"Based on preliminary testing, a number of animal species is under investigation as a possible source for the virus, including the palm civet, racoon dog, a species of fruit bat, and one species of snake, yet we still don't know the original source," Dr Gleeson said.
The animals could have been exposed to the virus in the animal markets, she added.
She recommended targetted surveillance studies of animal populations considered to be at high risk of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Bureau Report