Virus News - April 2004

COLD virus 'lurks in the body'.  Scientists have found evidence to suggest that a type of cold virus, which is common in babies, can lurk in the body for months or even years.  This is scary!  London, England, UK.

A number of different animals (foxes and cats) and not just the civet cat can carry, and potentially transmit, the virus that causes SARS (severe acute respiratory) - BEIJING, China.

TWO SARS cases confirmed, one person has died.  The silver lining, say health experts, is the fact that the virus comes from a laboratory which reduces the risk of people being infected - Beijing, China.

Japanese scientists warn that the mutation of the Bird Flu virus into a new strain is possible. Despite a series of declarations - Tokyo, Japan.

Hurricane Isabel could continue wreaking havoc this year by promoting the West Nile virus and providing extra fuel for forest fires - Washington, DC, USA.

The leader of a SARS control research team, reported at a conference China, that civets weren't the only animal to carry the virus -  Guangzhou, China.

NIGERIAN polio virus spreading.  A child in a village in Botswana has been paralyzed by poliomyelitis, the strain of the virus from northern Nigeria - JOHANNESBURG, South Africa.

A Wellford man has been indicted on charges of knowingly exposing two women to the virus that causes AIDS during sexual assaults - Charlotte, NC, USA.