Headline: New plagues of monkey viruses? Source: US NEWS.COM, Science & Technology Section (website) April 8th, 2002 The AIDS epidemic probably started decades ago when viruses carried by chimpanzees and monkeys made the jump to humans. A new study raises the specter of similar emerging diseases, showing that people in Africa who keep or eat monkeys often encounter other monkey viruses, distant cousins of HIV. The researchers used tests for HIV and its relatives to screen for unknown viruses in blood from 573 monkeys sold as meat and 215 kept as pets in Cameroon. Nearly a fifth tested positive, according to a report to appear in Emerging Infectious Diseases. "We are assuming that some of these viruses have already crossed into humans. They obviously haven't caused an epidemic," says Beatrice Hahn of the University of Alabama, who notes that "most cross-species transmissions go nowhere." But because of the potential for disaster, the scientists hope to start screening for the viruses in people who handle monkey meat as well as those with unexplained, AIDS-like illnesses. The findings also provide another potent argument against the thriving trade in "bushmeat"wild animals shot for foodwhich threatens many African species, says Martine Peeters of the Research Institute for Development in France. She says the study has already persuaded the government of Cameroon to start publicizing of health risks from bushmeat. - Nell Boyce Website link: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/020408/misc/8scibrfs.lede.htm
URL: http://www.primate.wisc.edu/pin/cons/plagues.html
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