This could be very serious. A number of dead chimps(and other animals) have been found to have a new anthrax like disease. It is not just that it could spread and weaken the chimp population. A new disease is always a concern. We don't know yet what species will be affected or how serious it will be.
http://news.google.ca/news/url?sr=1&ct2=...t=2&at=dt0
It is good that they monitor for emerging diseases. Remember, not so long ago, no one had ever heard of HIV or AIDS.
There is always a concern that a new illness could be as bad or worse.
It is worrying, yes. I hope the source of this illness is discovered, and its spread is stopped.
It is said that HIV and AIDS originated in the primates in Africa.
Also, some illnesses jump the gap between animal and human.
Yes HIV did come from African Primates. I believe current research supports a chimp origin. It is possibly a Chimp virus SIV that mutated when it transmitted to humans. It transmitted to humans through the eating of bush meat(chimps and monkeys etc.)
They are still not clear about the evidence. It needs more study.
A new chimp disease could devastate the chimps and other populations of animals. It also could transmit to humans with devastating consequences. It is good that they are monitoring the situation. that doesn't mean they can do anything.
One always wonders where these new diseases come from. Is it always just a freak mutation of a virus, or some experiment? Is it just a coincidence that HIV also appeared in the Congo, the same country as this one?
I feel so sorry for any animals affected and hope that it will not spread to other types.
I think there are lots of viruses out there. We are unaware of most of them. They are mostly stable in that they affect some particular population, but they don't wipe it out or the virus wouldn't survive.
We end up with problems when viruses are transmitted to people(animals) who are not normally part of the host population.
When they put a highway through a wild area many viruses are encountered and transmitted. When they started eating normally inaccessible populations of animals, viruses are transmitted.
When they created the polio vaccine (and other research projects) they used primates and exposed humans and other animals to new viruses. They also did not in any way use sterile techniques when mass vaccinating or when creating vaccines.
When humans traveled from one part of the world to another they brought their local viruses with them and almost wiped out some indigenous populations.
We have also created a situation where viruses can encounter each other and share genetic material and create newer and stronger vaccines.
Our farming methods are breeding grounds for diseases and disease mutations.
We are causing these problems with viruses, but not by intention. We are doing it the same way we are causing climate change.
It is a side effect of our human activities which are often not well thought out.
I just hope this in not going to be another serious epidemic.