in washington, a study involving a pig virus getting into human bodies through animal to human transplants has ended. the disease was not found in the patients after the operation where they recieved an animal organ was completed. transplanting organs or cells from one species to another is called xenotransplantaion. someday scientists hope that this type of operation will save thousands of lives. the world has a large shortage of organ donators.
also, scientists fear that xenotransplantations could cause epidemics like AIDS, it is thought that this disease sprung from monkeys into humans. in addition to this last year in malaysia, pigs were sickened by a deadly disease that spread to humans. pigs are the most likely canidates for transplantation.
Bibliography
study of animal to human transplant study eases worry about animal to human transplants
friday, august 20, 1999> the maimi herald
