Posted on 08/15/2007 7:33:11 PM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
(CHENGDU, China) - A highly infectious swine virus is sweeping China's pig population......
The government in Beijing acknowledged that in the past year, the virus had decimated pig stocks in southern and coastal areas. But animal virus experts said that the Chinese authorities were playing down the gravity and spread of the outbreak, and had refused to cooperate with international scientists.
"They haven't really explained what this virus is," said Federico Zuckermann, a professor of immunology at the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Illinois. "This is like SARS. They haven't sent samples to any international body. This is really irresponsible of China. This thing could get out and affect everyone."......
The government in Beijing said that about 165,000 pigs had contracted the virus this year. But in a country that, on average, loses 25 million pigs a year to disease, few believe the figures......
"No one believes the numbers the government publishes," said Hua Xiangbai, who teaches at Jiangxi Agricultural University......
The Chinese government insisted that the disease was under control and that a vaccine had been developed and distributed......
"This is the most rapidly evolving virus I've ever studied," said Trevor Drew, head of virology at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in England. "The Chinese are saying they have definitive proof, but as far as I'm concerned the jury is still out on what this disease is."......
"This disease is far bigger than they've admitted," said one Chinese scientist, who asked not to be identified out of fear for his job but was familiar with high-level briefings on blue-ear pig disease......
The Ministry of Agriculture declined to comment for this article on what areas were most affected. Government scientists also declined to say which provinces were affected by the disease, calling that, too, a state secret.......
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
Boycott.
This probably contributes to the spread of diseases in Chinese pigs:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881280/posts
Soon at a supermarket near you.
Boycott.
tell me we import chinese pork -
Another reason not to buy a Chinese made piggy bank besides the leaded paint!
According to everything I’ve read, we do not......yet.
Allahu Akbar!
Thus truly does almighty Allah smite the pig eating Chinese!
They must all convert to Islam, or die!!
(Oh, waiter, some pork chow mein, please?)
;^)
We really do need to forcibly deal with the lopsided trade fiasco we’ve developed with Communist China, this sort of stuff seems a good catalyst.
Our current trade deficit with China is not sustainable, and is very truly dangerous, in every sense of the word.
All those dollars buy WEAPONRY. For the world’s largest military, which quite clearly sees itself as an adversary.
The longer we wait to deal with this mess, the messier it will become, to deal with.
Now is as good a time as any, to start.
Not next week.
Not tomorrow.
RIGHT NOW.
I totally agree.
Instead, every cent of the tariff would go to train and employ inspectors to inspect a far larger percentage of Chinese imported goods than are currently being inspected.
This would increase the price of Chinese imports, but it would: create jobs, improve product quality, improve security of our shipping process, and would disgrace companies willing to sacrifice our safety in order to make a buck for themselves.
One out of ten?
I’ve always found it amazing that many find it shocking that most major illnesses come from China.
I’ve always maintained that chickens, pigs and all other livestock should be housed and fed in an area outside of the (human) family structure.
Hand washing is real important, too.
The upcoming Olympics will either cause China to clean up their act, or it will prove to be a huge embarrassment.
And heads will roll.......
bump & a Chicom micro ping
“This would increase the price of Chinese imports, but it would: create jobs, improve product quality, improve security of our shipping process, and would disgrace companies willing to sacrifice our safety in order to make a buck for themselves.”
Do you really think this would happen? Not!
‘Walmart Special’
This is known as the “Michael Moore Virus”, devouring any pork within sight.
Proposal:
Save yourself all that trouble of buying Chinese stuff. Parking. Dealing with the crowds. The lines at checkout.
Such a hassle. There’s a far easier way:
Just send your money directly to the PLA.
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