South China's Guangdong province has issued a bulletin on the civet
cat, which scientists believe is the likely source of the SARS
virus.
Feng Shaoming, spokesman for the Guangdong Health Bureau, said the
cat is an endangered species, and that trading of the animal is
totally illegal.
Local police and health authorities are stepping up actions to
disinfect animal markets and hunt out those involved in illegal
animal trading.
Saturday's newspapers in Guangdong carried pictures of the civet
cat, following the announcement by researchers that the coronavirus
which causes SARS had been traced to the feline.
(CRI online May 25, 2003)
