Are Floating Pigs Behind China’s Avian Flu?

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) News that a new form of deadly bird flu recently killed two Shanghai residents arrived in the morning’s papers, along with some expert suggestions on how to avoid catching the unwelcome disease.

“Wash your hands, and cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing,” was the advice published in the Oriental Morning Post, Shanghai’s most popular newspaper (and repeated in others). “And avoid eating or contact with dead and diseased livestock.”

That last directive might be a little tricky to fulfill. Since early March, Shanghai’s waterways have been clogged by dead pigs -- officially at least 11,000 of them but likely a lot more. Many of those pigs have found their way into tributaries that feed directly into the municipal water supply. Thus, in theory, every Shanghai resident who comes into contact with the city’s water is potentially compromised.

Or are they? So far, at least, nobody from any level of government -- local to national -- has revealed what, precisely, may have caused a massive pork die-off so close to the city of Shanghai. Was it a virus? Or perhaps a play for livestock insurance? Both rumors (and others) have been floated in Chinese social and traditional media, but without official confirmation. .....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-01/are-floating-pigs-behind-china-s-avian-flu-.html

[Katashi_itto]

1. Floating Pigs...

[TwilightGardener]

2. It's like "Contagion"! AGGGHHHH!!

Wait, that was bats and pigs. Oh well, still....AAGGGHHHHHH!!!

[randome]

3. I'll believe that when pigs can fly.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Smart Farm animal people do not let

their Hogs mingle with Chickens or other fowl. Geez,throw in a polluted river,you have a big time health issue coming down the road at you. Get real,this is a major Pandemic coming. Hogs thing Chicken shit is candy.

[Dpm12]

5. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022493904

[FirstLight]

6. at least *somebody* said it out loud

I have been watching this story from the onset, and actually predicted this outcome.... yuk.

My BF and I keep looking at each other and saying, "this sounds like the beginning of a bad zombie flick, doesn't it?"

But just because one reporter tried to connect the dots, doesn't mean we will be hearing any more information about this. I think the Chinese are being more hush hush than usual and will continue to do so. Where's the WHO when shit like this is going down? Have they gone in there and tested the fucking water? probably not...

sorry folks, try not to breathe on each other too much okay? Your mass graves are being dug as we speak...

[FirstLight]

8. Here's something from WHO's website...

(home of "nothing to see here...move along&quot

Because pigs can become infected with influenza viruses from a variety of different hosts (such as birds and humans), they can act as a "mixing vessel," facilitating the reassortment of influenza genes from different viruses and creating a "new" influenza virus. The concern is that such "new" reassortant viruses may be more easily spread from person to person, or may cause more severe disease in humans than the original viruses. WHO and animal health sector partners are working at the human-animal interface to identify and reduce animal health and public health risks within national contexts.

http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/swine_influenza/en/

THAT is just from the Swine flu info page... I especially like the last sentence. "it's being handled"

Here's the official Press Release: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_04_01/en/index.html

...looks like there 88 (or more) cases pending too...

[malaise]

7. There were floating ducks as well

Hundreds of them