Study links killer virus to camels

Category: Virus Killer

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

A respiratory virus that has killed dozens of people, mainly in the Middle East, is widespread in camels and may be jumping directly from camels to humans, according to a study.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, has killed 79 of the 182 people infected since September 2012, according to the World Health Organization.

Until now, little was known about its source or how MERS could be infecting people.

But senior study author Ian Lipkin of Columbia University said research now shows the virus is "extraordinarily common" in camels and has been for at least 20 years.

"It is plausible that camels could be a major source of infection for humans," he said.

"The virus that has been identified in these camels is identical to the virus that has been found in humans with disease," Lipkin said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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Study links killer virus to camels

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