died.
Odzala National Park is also home to other threatened species, including the endangered chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), the endangered African forest elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis), and the vulnerable lion (Panthera leo). The massive 13,600 square kilometer park sits in northeastern Congo, near the Gabonese border to the west and Cameroon to the north.
Scientists say multiple courses of action should be taken immediately:
- Field researchers already in the region, from groups including Ecofac, Wildlife Conservation Society and the University of Rennes, need greater human and financial resources to enhance monitoring in the park, in order to determine which species, if any, have been affected by Ebola, and in which part of the park they reside.
- After affected regions have been identified, create geographical barriers, such as making rivers impassable, to decrease the likelihood of any further spread.
- Increase funding for Ebola vaccines for the great apes, which have already proven successful in monkeys and are showing greater promise in humans.
- If Ebola outbreak is confirmed, immediately warn all people living in the area to avoid handling dead animals.
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often-fatal disease that affects humans and non-human primates, such as monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees. Researchers believe the disease, which first emerged in 1976, is zoonotic, or animal-borne. Many scientists believe it is spread through the butchering and handling of primate bushmeat. The disease has been confirmed only in six African nations: the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Sudan, Cte d'Ivoire, and Uganda.
"This is clearly bad news, but it is not too late to act," said Christophe Boesch, Professor at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, Germany. "Although it w
'"/>
Contact: Cristina Giacomo
39-347-8022-936
Conservation International
27-Aug-2004
Page: 1 2 3 Related biology news :1.
Scientists to prototype cyberinfrastructure for research and education access to ocean observatories2.
Scientists sequence genome of kind of organism central to biospheres carbon cycle3.
Scientists find nanowires capable of detecting individual viruses4.
Scientists discover potential new way to control drug-resistant bacteria5.
Scientists explore genome of methane-breathing microbe6.
Scientists decipher genetic code of biothreat pathogen7.
Stuck on you: Scientists lay bare secrets of bacterial attachment proteins8.
Scientists discover proteins involved in spread of HIV-1 infection9.
Scientists reinvent DNA as template to produce organic molecules10.
Scientists visualise cellular handmaiden that restores shape to proteins11.
Scientists identify compounds that mimic calorie restriction