What is this Hoof and Mouth disease? Where is it?I was surpised to find out that the farm where the lastest outbreak took place is less than 15 miles from our house. As is the Pirbright lab where it 'escaped' from. . .yikes!
Although F&M is a highly contagious disease, it is rare in humans. Mostly it affects cows and pigs, but other hooved animals too. Besides the suffering of the animals, they usually end up being euthanized even if they survive the disease. The only way they can control it is to kill the infected animals and stop the spread. So, it seems like the Pirbright 'Institute of Animal Health' which is a leader in the study of H&M, is trying to do the right thing by developing vaccinations. But when things escape their labs, you've got to wonder. What if something escaped from Atlanta's CDC? In a major city. Ahhhhh! (Okay, I admit I've read 'The Stand').
Still I'm just finding it odd that H&M keeps popping up over here. Is it the walkers going across farmland? Why doesn't the US have outbreaks? You gotta wonder.
1 comment:
I've wondered that about hoof and mouth as well, maybe the climate in the US is too warm or too dry. Or it could come down to soil ph, its carried in the soil, right? If you happen to find out, please post it on your blog.
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