Pointing out stories you may have missed. A rumour spread by text message has badly hit the price of bananas from China's Hainan island. The messages claim the fruit contains viruses similar to Sars, the severe respiratory illness which has killed hundreds of people worldwide. Producers in Hainan say the resulting price slump is costing them up to $2.5 million a day. China's Agriculture Ministry has dismissed the Sars claim as baseless. Police are investigating its source. "It is utterly a rumour," a Chinese Health Ministry official said. "There has not been a case in the world in which humans have contracted a plant virus, and there is not any scientific evidence." Hainan bananas had already been subject to rumours they caused cancer, after the banana plantations were hit by blight earlier this year.News source: BBC.
6 comments:
banana is a slippery fruit.when the peeled skin is thrown carelessly,it can cause someone a mighty fall.that is what is happening to china's hainan island. hai naa(n)?
Hi GS,
That, my friend, wins the award for the best comment of the day.
A cross language pun from English to Hindi is about as good as anyone can get!
Bravo
David
If this rumour is malicious, how appalling. Does the source of this realise the resulting catasrophe this wreaks upon those who rely upon this trade, as their sole means of income?
Hi Shrink,
So right. That is the downside of stories like this. You hit the nail on the head.
Cheers
David
No one has ever caught a plant virus?
Granny says that touching some woody plants causes warts!
I'm brave, but I'm not going to try it.
:@}
Hi BTBear,
Your Granny is right - but I'm not game enough to try!
Cheers
David
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