[WindOracle]

Yep, this sort of thing has happened before, with Canadian Goose droppings landing in feed troughs of hogs, and then passing on to humans. Typically that is how influenza was passed to humans in the past, thru an intermediary species rather than straight from the birds, which is why hog houses now are such disease controlled areas, with covered houses instead of open lots. Pork was the main offender in the past, but it is this ability of influenza's to pass to humans directly, which is a new development, that makes this so worrisome.

[djf]

Well, I don't have any livestock around.

But I imagine if it starts to get bad, as simple a task as filling your gas tank at the Shell station could infect you. Flu virus can live for days outside the body.

[Bear_Slayer]

which is why hog houses now are such disease controlled areas

I worked on a hog farm for a little while. The owner has a respectable business in the valley.

It's advertised as locally grown lean pork.

Anyhow, the place was a . . . well pigsty. What a mess. And I don't mean the pens. The whole outfit was unorganized and dirty. Dirty needles lying about. Manure piled higher than a fence. Equipment broken

He's still in business. that's because the slaughter house and butcher shop are very clean and presentable. But I doubt many would continue to buy from him if they could see the farm.