Virus update:
Chairman of the Scientific Committee on Emerging & Zoonotic Diseases Prof Yuen Kwok-yung and Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Thomas Tsang brief the media.
Virus update:
Chairman of the Scientific Committee on Emerging & Zoonotic Diseases Prof Yuen Kwok-yung and Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Thomas Tsang brief the media.
Bat connection found in novel coronavirus
September 28, 2012
The novel coronavirus is genetically close to those found in Hong Kong bats, the Centre for Health Protection says, reiterating there is no evidence of human-to-human infection.
The centre's Scientific Committee on Emerging & Zoonotic Diseases convened a meeting today to discuss the recent human cases of novel coronavirus infection overseas.
Committee chairman Prof Yuen Kwok-yung said the virus discovered in Saudi Arabia and Qatar is genetically close to certain bat coronaviruses which have been found by the University of Hong Kong.
He emphasised that although the two viruses might have a common ancestor, they are not the same, adding that more study is needed to find the source and reservoir of the novel coronavirus.
He said the public need not fear contact with bats, however, he advised people to wash their hands after contacting wild animals, as bats can carry other viruses that can affect humans.
The centre's controller Dr Thomas Tsang said the committee agreed the novel coronavirus is genetically distinct from the SARS-coronavirus of 2003.
Dr Tsang said it has not been confirmed whether the two novel coronavirus patients were infected by bats, and there is so far no evidence of human-to-human infection.
The Government has augmented surveillance measures at hospitals and the airport, and alerted doctors to the situation. It has also alerted other sectors, such as travellers taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage next month, to take precautions while abroad.
The novel coronavirus was today gazetted as a notifiable infectious disease under the law, which will strengthen the Government's legal powers to prevent and control the infection.
