Posted on 05/07/2009 4:23:09 AM PDT by Jonny foreigner
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's only known pig has been locked in a room, away from visitors to Kabul zoo where it normally grazes beside deer and goats, because people are worried it could infect them with the virus popularly known as swine flu.
The pig is a curiosity in Muslim Afghanistan, where pork and pig products are illegal because they are considered irreligious, and has been in quarantine since Sunday after visitors expressed alarm it could spread the new flu strain.
"For now the pig is under quarantine, we built it a room because of swine influenza," Aziz Gul Saqib, director of Kabul Zoo, told Reuters. "We've done this because people are worried about getting the flu."
Worldwide, more than 1,000 people have been infected with the virus, according to the World Health Organization, which also says 26 people have so far died from the strain. All but one of the deaths were in Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak.
There are no pig farms in Afghanistan and no direct civilian flights between Kabul and Mexico.
"We understand that, but most people don't have enough knowledge. When they see the pig in the cage they get worried and think that they could get ill," Saqib said.
The pig was a gift to the zoo from China, which itself quarantined some 70 Mexicans, 26 Canadians and four Americans in the past week, but later released them.
Some visitors were not concerned about the fate of the pig and said locking it away was probably for the best.
"Influenza is quite contagious and if it passes between people and animals then there's no need for the pig to be here," zoo visitor Farzana said...
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
How long until they declare Jiihad on this piggy?
Also from the report:
Mujahideen fighters then ate the deer and rabbits and shot dead the zoo’s sole elephant. Shells shattered the aquarium.
One fighter climbed into the lion enclosure but was immediately killed by Marjan, the zoo’s most famous inhabitant. The man’s brother returned the next day and lobbed a hand grenade at the lion leaving him toothless and blind....
Here is the segment in proper context. It’s still repulsive, but I read it to mean that all happened a decade ago. I would have editited the sentence to “Back then, Mujahideen fighters...”
Shabby and rundown, Kabul Zoo is a far cry from zoos in the developed world, but has nevertheless come a long way since it suffered on the front line of Afghanistan’s 1992-4 civil war.
Mujahideen fighters then ate the deer and rabbits and shot dead the zoo’s sole elephant. Shells shattered the aquarium.
i agree. i should have done this. thanks for the correction.
but then again would the taliban now behave different?
Every zoo should have a couple of caged Mujahideen. Hey! We could close Gitmo, and put ‘em in zoos!
Oh my God.
They have a pig in a ZOO, for Pete’s sake. Hilarious!
Just how do these people think the flu virus is transmitted from pigs? Body fluids..?
only 28% of their total population can read an write.
I guess this explains a lot.
they still live in the dark ages.
>>only 28% of their total population can read an write.
I guess this explains a lot.
they still live in the dark ages.<<
I saw cable news interview where they said Iraq was a 19th century country. Afghanistan is a 3rd century country.
That’s not completely accurate since the barbarians in the 3rd century didn’t have RPG’s.
But they had a point.
agreed the fact that they are able to operate (of course not to build it) a AK 47 or a RPG differs them from people living in the 3rd century or even the stone age.
but then again. even people who had lived 2000 before Christ would have been able to use a AK47 if someone gives it to them.
The Taliban now wouldn’t behave any different at all. We, and the Afghans, are fortunate that they aren’t in power.
This story reads like a Onion Article.
One pig in whole country? The Virginia pork industry needs to take up a collection to airdrop pigs all over that place. I am sure they would do well and the locals could use the protein. If I ever hit the lottery, this would be a project to fund.
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