This should be a wake-up call for our public health authorities. The petition was signed by 55 scientists, physicians, veterinarians and concerned laypersons. CRT has also collected thousands of signatures on a non-legal petition, supporting a ban on xenotransplants. Scientists have expressed concerns that, xenotransplantation techniques using animal cells are no safer than whole organ transplants, because viruses may still be transmitted to the patient, and the general population.
Pigs carry numerous bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens that can cause disease in humans.
New infections could have long incubation periods, and may not be detected until they have been transmitted to other individuals. The Council's vote is timely in light of a new study by researchers at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, suggesting that AIDS was the result of cross-species transmission between chimpanzees and humans. AIDS now infects 35 million people wordwide. Ministers must present the CoE's proposal to their individual governments as a precursor to binding legislation. This process may take months.