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Our best guess is that SARS originated from bats and jumped to humans via masked palm civets, which are typically sold in live animal markets in China. This is
by cycrutchfield 7y ago
Our best guess is that SARS originated from bats and jumped to humans via masked palm civets, which are typically sold in live animal markets in China. This is not just my own pet theory, you can read the extensive literature on the topic.
- blackrock 7y agoThis is an already known and suspected theory. But there is no evidence that it came from eating it. Then explain how MERS appeared. Did people of the Middle East suddenly have a gourmet taste for eating camels one day?
- cycrutchfield 7y agoI don’t think anybody said that somebody ate a civet and got sick. However, civets are not naturally to be found in close proximity to humans. The jump from species to species was due to the appetite for civets causing them to be held in cages at wet markets for prolonged periods of time.
- nradov 7y agoCamel meat has always been popular in the Middle East. About 3M camels are slaughtered for meat every year. It's similar to beef, and considered a halal meat for Muslims.
- blackrock 7y agoIsn’t the meat cooked? That normally kills off germs and pathogens.
- cycrutchfield 7y agoFully killing off viruses would require bringing the internal temperature of the meat to around 70 degrees C. People do not typically do this for red meat as the resulting texture is unappealing.
- nradov 7y agoWhat's your point? Most people cook their meat before eating whether it's camels, bats, or civet cats. The serious cross-species disease transmission risk is from unsanitary practices in handling live animals and raw meat before cooking.