Do you enjoy the exotic taste of gorilla, chimpanzee, and bonobo? If so, you could be putting yourself at risk for simian foamy virus, and it would be just terrible if you suffered any negative consequences as a result of your appetite for endangered primates. Scientists have found strains of the virus in three different species of monkeys that were brought into New York to be eaten. Though they say it's related to H.I.V., it's "not known to cause disease." But the virus's long-term effects remain unknown, and diseases like "monkey pox, SARS, and HIV/AIDS (via human infection with simian immunodeficiency virus) have all impacted public health through the consumption or trade of wild animals," which is otherwise known as bushmeat.
According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, more than one billion individual animals were imported into the U.S. from 2000 to 2004, along with over 11 million pounds of bushmeat and other animal products. Inspectors have seized hundreds of samples of wildlife and wildlife products coming into the country in luggage and mail parcels, and tests were recently run on at least 14 species, including great apes, monkeys, rodents, and bats. Scientists found two simian foamy virus strains in three primate species: two types of mangabey monkeys and a chimpanzee
"To hit pay dirt right in the beginning, it’s surprising," Dr. William Karesh, a veterinarian in charge of Wildlife Conservation Society health programs, tells City Room. "Because the assumption was viruses in this material would be very rare and very difficult to find, but it’s not turning out to be that way, which is scary because a lot of this material is coming into the U.S."
