According to a recent CNN article,
the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is warning parents that their kids could
contract swine flu from state fairs.
In August, the CDC confirmed cases of swine flu in 18
people, 16 of whom were children. The agency reports that the superbug was likely
contracted at agricultural fairs in Michigan and Ohio.
All 18 patients stated they’d had some exposure to pigs at
agricultural fairs prior to getting sick. Thirteen said they’d handled a pig,
and four recall passing through a swine barn. One patient claimed indirect
contact without specifying the details.
In 2013, Porcine
Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV), a potentially fatal illness that causes
diarrhea in pigs, was discovered in Asia, Europe, and North America. PEDV hit
five pork-producing states, including Iowa, the number one pork producer in the
country, and sickened thousands of pigs. It truly shook up the industry, but
unfortunately didn’t cause pig farmers to change their nasty ways.
How does this happen? Sadly, it’s common, and factory
farming is to blame. Pigs are kept in deplorable
conditions on modern-day pork farms. They are routinely crammed into
gestation crates — cages so small the animals can’t even turn around or lie
down comfortably. They develop sores and become stressed, which weakens their
immune systems. The overcrowded conditions cause diseases to spread fast.
You can take a stand against this every time you have a
meal. By choosing a healthy and compassionate vegan diet, you can send a powerful
message to farmers that animal abuse has no place in the twenty-first century.
For everything you need to get started, visit ChooseVeg.com.