Pig-to-Human Ebola Case Suspected in Philippines

By DONALD G. MCNEIL JR
Published: January 23, 2009
In the first known case of what may be transmission of the Ebola virus from a pig to a human, a pig handler in the Philippines has tested positive for a strain of the virus, world health officials and the Philippine government announced Friday.

The development is worrying, because pigs are mixing vessels for other human and animal viruses, like flu, and because it shows that pigs may also be able to transmit the lethal strains of Ebola. Far more humans are in regular contact with pigs than with apes, monkeys or bats, the other known hosts.

For more information:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/health/24ebola.html?_r=1&hp