CDC: Kids Are Getting Swine Flu From State Fairs

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.