Sars: China 'culls' pets
Beijing - China is rounding up dogs and cats from Sars patients' homes and killing them for fear canines and felines will spread the deadly disease to humans, officials said on Wednesday.
Although veterinary experts said there is no evidence severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) can be transmitted to humans from household animals, the furry beasts are nevertheless coming under suspicion.
The Beijing city government recently issued an order for police to seize pets from homes where people have been infected with Sars, an official at the city's police department office in charge of pet control said.
"Pets can spread diseases. People can take measures to prevent diseases being spread, but not pets," said the official.
"If a family has Sars and they have pets, we will catch and kill the pets regardless of whether they show Sars symptoms."
