Two Teams Identify Chinese Bat as SARS Virus Hiding Place

[bemildred]

The SARS virus, which has killed 774 people worldwide, has long been known to come from an animal. Now two scientific teams have independently identified the Chinese horseshoe bat as that animal and as a hiding place for the virus in nature.

The bats apparently are healthy carriers of SARS, which caused severe economic losses, particularly in Asia, as it spread to Canada and other countries. In Asia, many people eat bats or use bat feces in traditional medicine for asthma, kidney ailments and general malaise.

The Chinese horseshoe bat does not exist in the United States.

The finding is important in preventing outbreaks of SARS and similar viruses carried by bats because it provides an opportunity for scientists to break the transmission chain.

NY Times

[libnnc]

1. yet another reason for me to hate bats

cripes he's ugly
:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[havocmom]

2. Bats are good. They eat bugs that carry other diseases.

But eating bat shit is a BAD idea. Don't do that!

[bemildred]

3. Yep, and batshit crazy pResidents are bad for your mental health. nt

[havocmom]

5. Das da fact!

:D

[libnnc]

4. I promise I won't even get close enough to one

to eat batshit.

I'm serious, they

Freak. Me. Out.

bbbrrrrrr! :scared:

[kestrel91316]

11. Bats are on the whole VERY GOOD to have around. That said,

they are carriers of some very nasty diseases that kill humans with alarming efficiency. For instance: rabies; some other nasty virus in Asia/Borneo?? whose name I forget, lol, brain fart; and now SARS. So a word to the wise: if you ever come across a bat that lets you get near it, don't get near it and certainly don't touch it. Unless you are a trained professional with current rabies vaccination.

[Maple]

6. I like bats

Sort of mice with wings. They've always fascinated me.

But they can be carriers, so they aren't good pets

And as for eating them...!

[kestrel91316]

7. Am I confused? I thought civets were the source...........

[Maple]

8. Well the bats

could have bitten the civets. Passed it on that way.

[kestrel91316]

10. Works for me.

[Lilyhoney]

9. I like bats.

I am a moonbat after all.