Deadly SARS Virus Started in Factory Farms

The killer pneumonia known as SARS (Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which has come to Denver, is from a virus which probably originated in Chinese factory farms, according to a report in The New Scientist on April 3. It is likely a "new hybrid that originated in the intensively farmed livestock of China's Guangdong province." The New Scientist notes that bird vendors and chefs were the first people to fall ill, and that early SARS patients were all in close contact with livestock. The virus closely resembles one that causes bronchitis in chickens.

SARS is highly contagious and there is no known treatment as of this writing. So far it has been fatal in about 3% - 4% of all cases. The scientist who discovered it has himself died of the disease. There have been serious outbreaks in Hong Kong and in parts of Canada and it threatens to spread all over the world. Three cases were reported in Denver in early April.

-- Keith Akers