Viral threat coming to the mainland
There's a new plan afoot that should strike fear into anyone who owns livestock: A proposed move of a controversial research facility from a deserted island to smack in the middle of the mainland. The problem? It handles the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease.
This is the most ridiculous plan that has ever been conceived. It raises the specter of a potential outbreak that could devastate livestock all across the country.
As if food prices weren't bad enough.
The virus has been kept isolated at the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, which is currently situated on Plum Island in New York. You can only get to it by air or by sea. There are five sites now in the running for the dubious distinction of playing host to this deadly contagion. Georgia, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Kansas, Texas and Mississippi.
All it takes is one miniscule slip for this virus to be unleashed onto farms across the country. It's a well-tuned survivalist, able to latch onto the breath of humans, our clothing—and any of our equipment that leaves the lab area. From there, it doesn't take much for the virus to hitch a ride and start spreading.
It happened in England, and they were forced to euthanize millions of animals.
The virus causes animals to lose weight, their overall constitution becomes weakened, they can't produce milk (if they're milk cows)—and they can still remain contagious even if they don't actually die from the virus.
The planned relocation of the research facility is being driven by concerns over the security of an off-island biological research site. But what should not be forgotten are internal factors that can affect homeland security—such as a viral outbreak.
Obviously, you don't have to own cattle for this to affect you and your family. If you find the prospect of this nasty virus coming to a community near you an alarming idea, then I urge you to contact your elected official. Go to www.congress.org and contact them today.
