Download 16 more bat viruses `could infect humans`

The Star ­ Monday
Date: 02.02.2015
Page 31
Article size: 89 cm2
ColumnCM: 19.77
AVE: 34808.88
16 more bat viruses
'could infect humans'
THERE is a likelihood 16
other viruses in bats coutd
would shortly announce
jump to humans and
dollars in investment in
cause a disease outbreak
with effects similar to
infrastructure in the three
countries worst affected
Ebola, a health security
by Ebola ­ Guinea, Sierra
expert said.
Leone and Liberia.
The crisis has hit
Liberia and Sierra Leone
Humans cart contract
Ebola from bats, which
are carriers of the virus,
as well as from other
animals.
Prof Nigel Lightfoot
said the additional viruses
had been identified
by scientists from the
National Institute for
Communicable Diseases
in South Africa.
More than 8,600
hundreds of millions of
particularly hard because
recent civil wars have left
their health services in
tatters, the conference
hosted by think tank Royal
United Services Institute
heard.
The conflicts also
fuelled a brain drain as
doctors left to work in
the West. Lightfoot, who
people have died in the
epidemic that began in
Guinea a year ago and has
led to more than 21,700
NGO which aims to flag up
potential risks, said early
cases reported across
communication was key
nine countries. Lightfoot
to preventing outbreaks
turning into epidemics.
said the World Bank
is executive director of
Cords, an international
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya