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Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Human Viruses Jumping to Wild Apes


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A young chimpanzee peeks through leaves in Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in western Africa.

Scientists who study chimps and gorillas in this park and in other African areas are unwittingly passing viruses on to the apes, which often develop fatal respiratory diseases, a study says.

Researchers are starting to take precautions, such as wearing masks, to avoid transmitting the diseases to their study subjects.

Photograph by Michael Nichols/NGS