posted on March 13, 2001 12:36:48 PM
bobbysoxer - I've read about this latest outbreak. It does concern me and I've wondered if we're not getting any responses because people in the US feel this is happening across the ocean and can't affect us.
When Mad Cow Disease broke out the people were told it didn't affect people, only animals. Then 10 years later their government admitted it did cause illness in humans.
Now many countries in Europe are dealing with the Hoof & Mouth Disease. We are hearing it does not affect humans, only animals, once again. Ten years from now will they acknowledge that it does?
The Fox News report I just now heard said this virus can be transported via humans, on their clothes, in their noses, on their shoes, etc. and can be brought to other countries via that mode.
It does worry me that it will show up in the US and affect our animals.
posted on March 13, 2001 01:02:15 PM
Thanks Linda_K for the links particularly the timeline. I missed the fox coverage about the clothing etc.
I believe I have posted this before in an earlier discussion about the mad cow disease but will do it again.
I watched a documentry several years ago about the mad cow disease and they mentioned the contaminated meat can be (and was?) used in canned pet food.
And that there were a couple of cases in the USA that the officials were considering to be related to the mad cow disease. Now however I have heard that they weren't. I do wonder if they did the about-face in order to prevent "concern."
And for the Red Cross to ban blood from "some" USA citizens who were in Europe since about 1980 for more than 6 months it has to be here in the USA. (To get the real scope about the Red Cross ban please visit their website or call their 800 number.)
We have had "hoof in mouth" here in the USA but it has been contained. I wonder what is going on?
Where are the conspiracy theorists? While I was watching the documentry I wondered if it was man-made.
posted on March 13, 2001 02:16:19 PM
Hoof & Mouth is not a fatal disease for animals--but it is painful as they get lesions in their mouths and as a result don't eat...and lose weight, plus they get blisters on their hooves . Lactating females get lesions on their teats. It takes about 6 months for the virus to run it's course---but the animal remains contagious. There is no cure, same as there is no cure for a cold which is caused by a virus---it just has to run it's course. But because of the economic impact and contagious nature of the disease--it can't and the animals need to be destroyed
Last outbreak in the USA was 1929
The Foot, Hand and Mouth disease that humans get is caused by a different virus
