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The European Commission has banned the import of cats, dogs and fruit bats
from Malaysia and Australia because of fears that they may harbour the related
Hendra and Nipah viruses. Bats are thought to be the natural host of both
viruses, but Nipah, which has killed more than 100 people this year, may be
transmitted to humans via the saliva of infected pigs
(New Scientist, 21 August, p 18).
The virus has also been found in cat saliva and in dogs. In
1994, two Australian men died after contracting Hendra from infected horses.