Is a new SARS-like virus is ‘poised to infect humans’? New virus, found in bats, ‘could be the next Ebola or Zika’…” The capacity of this group of viruses to jump into humans is greater than we originally thought”, Dr Vineet Menachery, of UNC
Scientists warn that a new virus, WIV1-CoV, could be the next SARS
The viruses are very similar – and could produce identical responses
The 2003 SARS outbreak infected 8,000 people and killed 800
People with SARS start with flu-like symptoms that turn into pneumonia
The discovery comes on the heels of the recent Ebola and Zika outbreaks
The 2014 Ebola outbreak infected 29,000 people and killed 11,300
Zika outbreak is ongoing – and linked to a surge of birth defects
By LISA RYAN
DAILYMAIL.COM
15 March 2016
Scientists are bracing for a potential outbreak of a new SARS-like virus.
Experts warn the new virus, called WIV1-CoV, may induce the same results in humans as SARS – starting out with flu-like symptoms and accelerating rapidly to pneumonia.
The SARS outbreak of 2003 infected 8,000 people – and claimed nearly 800 lives.
More recently, the Ebola epidemic that swept through West Africa in 2014, infecting nearly 29,000 people and killing 11,300, serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact an outbreak can have.
And, the ongoing Zika crisis in South America, though not on the same scale as Ebola, is yet another example of how a virus can quickly spread.
Each of the outbreaks affected thousands of people – and cost billions in lost economic growth.
Now, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill experts caution, WIV1-CoV could have a similar scope.
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