After A Year, Scientists Have Linked The Deadly MERS Virus To Camels
Researchers from The Netherlands say they have found antibodies against the virus in many dromedary camels they tested. The antibodies mean that the camels were, at one time, exposed to the virus. But none of them were infected with the virus when they were tested, which means their immune system fought it off.
Of 50 camels tested in Oman, where the virus is showing up in people, all showed signs of having been infected with the virus. Only 15 of the 105 camels tested form the Canary Islands, where people aren't being infected, tested positive.
"The fact that 100% of the Omanian camels are positive means that the result is highly significant and likely very real." Ian Lipkin, a virologist at Columbia University who's also searching for MERS in animal samples, told Science Magazine. He said the paper provides "compelling evidence that camelids [a group that includes camels, llamas, and alpacas] may be implicated."
None of the other animals tested , including cows, sheep, and goats, were positive for antibodies against the virus.
The results were reported today, Aug. 8, in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases (the paper will go live at 6:30 pm EST).
While the data is preliminary, it is the first real sign that researchers are on the right path to finding where this deadly virus is coming from.
There could still be other ways the virus is circling, Lipkin said, so the search needs to continue. Finding the source means people can be warned, and the spread of the
- A centenarian who starts her day with gentle exercise and loves walks shares 5 longevity tips, including staying single
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- FSSAI in process of collecting pan-India samples of Nestle's Cerelac baby cereals: CEO
- 7 Nutritious and flavourful tiffin ideas to pack for school
- India's e-commerce market set to skyrocket as the country's digital economy surges to USD 1 Trillion by 2030
- Top 5 places to visit near Rishikesh
- Indian economy remains in bright spot: Ministry of Finance
- A surprise visit: Tesla CEO Elon Musk heads to China after deferring India visit