2,400 monkeys infected with coronavirus by scientists to find a cure

Monkeys have been infected with strain of dely coronavirus in an attempt to find a medicine to epidemic which was originated in Chinese city of Wuhan. According to media reports, more than 2,400 rhesus macaques have been exposed to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. World Health Organisation has said that this particular strain can cause shortness of breath, fever, cough and in some cases, organ failure. 

findings of three groups of monkeys to be infected with fatal strain have been published in Drug Target Review. According to study from United States National Institutes of Health (NIH), a vaccine called 'remdesivir' has been successfully developed to prevent infection. Media reports also state that one of groups of monkeys in Montana, US was given vaccine 24 hours before being infected with MERS-CoV while ar group was injected with it at least 12 hours after infection. However, third group received ne. 

After which, all groups were reportedly put under observation for six days and it was revealed that those who were treated with medicine prior to infections showed symptoms. While those who were treated after infection were shown to have suffered less dam to ir lungs and outcome of those who did t receive any medicine remains unkwn. According to media reports, monkeys will be able to trial it in fight against Covid-19 which has killed more than 2,500 people in China. 

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'Largest public health emergency'

While scientists are trying to find cure of dely outbreak, China's President Xi Jinping reportedly said that epidemic is communist China's 'largest public health emergency' since its founding in 1949. Meanwhile, death toll in China has surpassed 2,500 and National Health Commission reportedly confirmed 150 new cases.

Jinping furr called outbreak a 'crisis' and said that epidemic has 'fastest transmission' and widest range of infection which has been most difficult to prevent and control. 

While speaking to a Chinese local media outlet, President furr ackwledged that epidemic will have a 'large impact on ecomy and society', however, he also stressed that effects will be 'short-term' and 'controllable'.

His comments come as total number of confirmed cases within China hit nearly 77,000. While on or hand, South Korea raised alert level to 'highest' as number of infected people in nation soared. 

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(With ncy inputs)