URG-L: Le mysterieux virus est identifie

[Pascal Rochegune]

Archive Number 20030318.0679 Published Date 18-MAR-2003 Subject PRO/EDR> Severe acute respiratory syndrome - worldwide (08) SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME - WORLDWIDE (08) ************************************************** A ProMED-mail post <http://www.promedmail.org> ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org> Date: 18 Mar 2003 From: "Henry L Niman, PhD" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Source: Hong Kong Standard 19 Mar 2003 02:16 AM [edited] <http://www.thestandard.com.hk/thestandard/topstory.cfm> Killer virus identified ----------------------- A team from the Prince of Wales Hospital and Chinese University of Hong Kong have identified the virus that has caused the recent outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome worldwide, confirming that the current anti-viral treatment applied to patients has been the right choice. Identifying the virus as a member of the Paramyxoviridae family, Professor John Tam of the department of microbiology of the Chinese University said it was detected by electron microscopy. The finding, announced late last night, was further confirmed by a molecular technique that revealed the nucleic acid sequence of the virus. Asked if the virus was curable, Tam reiterated that the finding last night had indicated that the current treatment applied to patients suffering from the syndrome, more commonly known as atypical pneumonia, had been the right choice. But he added that they still needed to monitor individual patients' reactions before they could conclude that the virus was curable. Lo Wing-lok, Medical Association president and legislator, said the Paramyxoviridae family incorporated different viruses that could affect humans and, as such, further studies were needed to establish whether it was a new virus. Earlier it was revealed that at least 6 patients were responsible for spreading the pneumonia in Hong Kong. Health chief Yeoh Eng-kiong also said that a mainland professor who died in [Hong Kong] SAR on 4 Mar 2003 was a victim of the atypical pneumonia. The new information from officials indicated the disease had been more widespread in the SAR than originally believed. Yeoh said the pneumonia and suspected cases had now been isolated into 6 "clusters". Yeoh again stressed the government was not hiding anything. He insisted there was no sign of an outbreak at the community level. [byline: Matthew Lee and Georgina Lee] ----- Original Message ----- From: J Levasseur To: URG-L Mailing List Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 5:13 AM Subject: URG-L: Le mysterieux virus est identifie Voir :  http://www.promedmail.org   Il semble qu�il s�agisse d�un paramyxovirus.   [Paramyxoviruses are viruses associated predominantly with respiratory infections (the parainfluenza viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)) and common childhood illnesses (mumps and measles). Some of these viruses are ubiquitous (in particular human RSV) and it would not be exceptional to detect one of these viruses fortuitously by electron microscopy in any virus screening exercise. In general, paramyxoviruses only infect vertebrates and no arthropod vectors are known. Unexpectedly, in recent years several new paramyxoviruses have been discovered. Predominant among these are _Hendra virus_ and _Nipah virus_, 2 related viruses isolated from bats in Australia and South East Asia, which have been responsible for outbreaks of severe disease in the human population. These two viruses differ significantly from other paramyxoviruses in molecular terms and might not be detected by PCR without the use of specific primers. Other novel paramyxoviruses of unknown pathogenic potential are _Salem virus_, isolated from a horse in North America, _Tupaia paramyxovirus_, isolated from a tree shrew (_Tupaia_ sp.) in Thailand, and a heterogeneous collection of paramyxoviruses isolated from snakes, lizards, and turtles. Perhaps the most surprising discovery was the recent characterization of a novel pneumovirus (that is, a member of the sub-family _Pneumovirinae_ of the family _Paramyxoviridae)), designated _Human metapneumovirus_, which is associated with respiratory illness in infancy worldwide. Consequently a novel paramyxovirus must rank high among candidates for the etiologic agent of SARS. - Mod.CP]     Jean Levasseur