Doubt Transplants

1998/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna

The concerns generated by the introduction of animal organs in humans have increased in recent months. In pigs a new virus has been found that until now was not known. This virus acts on fetuses and they are born dead or deformed.

The future of these xenotransplants will be conditioned by these viruses, which are not yet sufficiently known the damage these viruses can cause in humans.

Some experts believe that these organs, once properly analyzed before their introduction, would not be endangered, but now it has been proven that unknown viruses cannot be detected and that the consequences cannot be known in these cases.

The debate arose last year when two workers from a churrería near Sydney developed the disease caused by this strange virus. The spread of the virus was attributed to a bat colony next to the churrería, as bats act as persecutors. At present these two workers are healthy and the virus has no danger to humans.

Another issue is the concern and uncertainty that has arisen in the face of the risks of transplants with swine organs.