Killer banana rumours sweep China by text message

A rumour spread by text message has badly hit the price of bananas from China's Hainan island, state media say.

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 20 million yuan ($US2.6m) a day.

China's Agriculture Ministry has dismissed the Sars claim as baseless. Police are investigating its source.