Slashdot Mirror
Deadly Version of Bird Flu Found in Romania
CMan0 writes "The BBC reports that a deadly version of the bird flu has been found in Romania. Several ducks and chickens have died on a farm in Romania this month of the disease, it has been confirmed. It's mentioned that the disease is spreading very rapidly, as the last known location of the disease was Siberia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan in August and the 1st of October in Turkey." From the article: "People appear dazed by what is happening, but since it was confirmed that this is the strain of the bird flu virus found in Asia, they have begun co-operating closely with officials sent to collect their birds, our correspondent says. Turkey has already reported the discovery of the lethal strain of the virus among birds in the west of the country. The EU has banned imports of live birds and poultry products from Romania and Turkey. EU veterinary experts said on Friday that the bird flu outbreak did not represent a risk to the general public 'at present'."
Avian flu is dangerous because people get if from eating livestock and then spread it to other people.
It is also starting to be believed that mad cow can be spread to people without the victim having to eat diseased meat. "Prions" which can give you the disease are near indestructible. Mad Cow has been found in the US though the media has played it down.
Neither of these diseases would be a problem if so much livestock was not raised, and if people did not eat meat.
People may like meat, but most people do need it to live or even to make interesting tasty meals.
So, human beings are going to risk creating a world wide, deadly, flu epidemic ala Stephen King all for the sake of one choice for dinner over another.
That does not sound very rational.
If you want to reduce your risk of these diseases, these links can help you reduce the amount of meat you eat:
http://tryveg.com/cfi/toc/
http://www.veganhealth.org/sh/
Sure, the Bird Flu is horrible and all, but when I want news on it, I watch the local TV news or read the newspaper. It might be "stuff that matters, but how is it "news for nerds"?
People who believe in the bible don't have to worry at all about the virus, because they don't believe one creature can change into another, so it's not possible for the virus to 'mutate' and jump to humans.