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First Ebola boy likely infected by playing in bat tree | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Ebola victim who is believed to have triggered the current outbreak - a two-year-old boy called Emile Ouamouno from Guinea - may have been infected by playing in a hollow tree housing a colony of bats, say scientists. | The Ebola victim who is believed to have triggered the current outbreak - a two-year-old boy called Emile Ouamouno from Guinea - may have been infected by playing in a hollow tree housing a colony of bats, say scientists. |
They made the connection on an expedition to the boy's village, Meliandou. | They made the connection on an expedition to the boy's village, Meliandou. |
They took samples and chatted to locals to find out more about Ebola's source. | They took samples and chatted to locals to find out more about Ebola's source. |
The team's findings are published in EMBO Molecular Medicine. | The team's findings are published in EMBO Molecular Medicine. |
Ebola trail | Ebola trail |
Meliandou is a small village of 31 houses. | Meliandou is a small village of 31 houses. |
It sits deep within the Guinean forest region, surrounded by towering reeds and oil palm cultivations - these are believed to have attracted the fruit bats carrying the virus passed on to Emile. | It sits deep within the Guinean forest region, surrounded by towering reeds and oil palm cultivations - these are believed to have attracted the fruit bats carrying the virus passed on to Emile. |
During their four-week field trip in April 2014, Dr Fabian Leendertz and colleagues found a large tree stump situated about 50m from Emile's home. | During their four-week field trip in April 2014, Dr Fabian Leendertz and colleagues found a large tree stump situated about 50m from Emile's home. |
Villagers reported that children used to play frequently in the hollow tree. | Villagers reported that children used to play frequently in the hollow tree. |
Emile - who died of Ebola in December 2013 - used to play there, according to his friends. | Emile - who died of Ebola in December 2013 - used to play there, according to his friends. |
The villagers said that the tree burned on March 24, 2014 and that once the tree caught fire, there issued a "rain of bats". | The villagers said that the tree burned on March 24, 2014 and that once the tree caught fire, there issued a "rain of bats". |
A large number of these insectivorous free-tailed bats - Mops condylurus in Latin - were collected by the villagers for food, but disposed of the next day after a government-led ban on bushmeat consumption was announced. | A large number of these insectivorous free-tailed bats - Mops condylurus in Latin - were collected by the villagers for food, but disposed of the next day after a government-led ban on bushmeat consumption was announced. |
While bushmeat is thought to be a possible source of Ebola, the scientists believe it didn't trigger the outbreak. | While bushmeat is thought to be a possible source of Ebola, the scientists believe it didn't trigger the outbreak. |
Instead, it was Emile's exposure to the bats and their droppings as he played with his friends in the hollowed tree. | Instead, it was Emile's exposure to the bats and their droppings as he played with his friends in the hollowed tree. |
Pest control | Pest control |
The scientists took and tested ash samples from the tree and found DNA traces that were a match for the animals. | The scientists took and tested ash samples from the tree and found DNA traces that were a match for the animals. |
While they were unable to test any of the bushmeat that the villagers had disposed of, they captured and tested any living bats they could find in and around Meliandou. | While they were unable to test any of the bushmeat that the villagers had disposed of, they captured and tested any living bats they could find in and around Meliandou. |
No Ebola could be detected in any of these hundred or so animals, however. | No Ebola could be detected in any of these hundred or so animals, however. |
But previous tests show this species of bat can carry Ebola. | But previous tests show this species of bat can carry Ebola. |
Dr Leendertz, from the Robert Koch Institute in Germany, and his colleagues say this must be a pretty rare occurrence though. | Dr Leendertz, from the Robert Koch Institute in Germany, and his colleagues say this must be a pretty rare occurrence though. |
Dr Leendertz said: "That is also obvious when you think about how many tonnes of bat meat is consumed every year. | Dr Leendertz said: "That is also obvious when you think about how many tonnes of bat meat is consumed every year. |
"If more bats carried the virus, we would see outbreaks all the time." | "If more bats carried the virus, we would see outbreaks all the time." |
He says it is vital to find out more about the bats. | He says it is vital to find out more about the bats. |
"They have moved into human settlements. They do not just live in the trees but also under the roofs of houses in the villages. | "They have moved into human settlements. They do not just live in the trees but also under the roofs of houses in the villages. |
"The Ebola virus must jump through colonies from bat to bat, so we need to know more." | "The Ebola virus must jump through colonies from bat to bat, so we need to know more." |
But culling the animals is not the answer. | But culling the animals is not the answer. |
"We need to find ways to live together with the wildlife. These bats catch insects and pests, such as mosquitoes. They can eat about a quarter of their body weight in insects a day. | "We need to find ways to live together with the wildlife. These bats catch insects and pests, such as mosquitoes. They can eat about a quarter of their body weight in insects a day. |
"Killing them would not be a solution. You would have more malaria." | "Killing them would not be a solution. You would have more malaria." |