HK researchers say SARS virus may have come from civet cat

May 23, 2003

By Hong Kong Bureau Chief Melissa Heng

Hong Kong researchers have traced the coronavirus which causes SARS to

civet cats, an animal often eaten by people from Hong Kong and southern China.

" From genetic information, it is highly likely that the virus jumped from

civet cats to humans, " said Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, head of the

University of Hong Kong's Department of Microbiology.

Researchers hailed the finding as a major breakthrough in the fight against

SARS, and called for stricter regulations at farms and restaurants that

serve wild game.

After 11 weeks, another of the mysteries surrounding SARS has been solved.

Researchers at HKU and the CDC in Shenzhen say they " had successfully

isolated the coronavirus causing SARS from civet cats. "

The animal in question is the masked palm civet, a wild cat that is

popularly reared as a food source in southern China.

Wildlife restaurants are common in Guangdong, and experts here say that

while it is unrealistic to expect the practice of eating civets to stop

overnight, extra care should be taken.

" This coronavirus can be found in the fecal excretion of the civet. So in

the process of rearing or cooking the animals, there may be cross

contamination of a lot of serum, " said Professor Yuen.

" And if you touch that and then touch your mucus membrane, there's a high

chance of you getting it. "

To prevent further jumping of the virus to humans, experts say it is

important to tighten controls on farms, so that animals bred for human

consumption, especially wild game, have proper immunisation.

" All the eating of wild game animals should be put under regulation. So by

regulating the rearing and consumption, you can do surveillance work and

make sure the animals are reared and slaughtered under hygienic

conditions, " said Prof Yuen.

The civet cat was recently ranked as one of the most popular " exotic "

animals eaten by Hong Kongers.

Researchers hope this latest findings would raise the awareness of the

dangers of eating unhygienic game, and help stop another outbreak of a

disease like SARS.

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