From the diversity is our strength files: Smuggled bush meat

[beefeater]

Bat and Rat meat? Oh My.

Renew Deal
 
Smuggled bush meat brings viral threat to US

A newly published study shows that "bush meat" and other wild animal products intercepted on their way into the United States often bring with them pathogens that can be deadly to humans, wildlife and livestock.

The pilot study focused on wild animals and wild animal products coming from primates, rodents and bats from Africa that were imported for human consumption and confiscated, mainly at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport. What researchers found was that viruses sometimes persisted in these products even when they were smoked or otherwise prepared to make them safe for eating.

"We know from studies and outbreaks in Africa that live animals and bush meat carry a range of pathogens," said wildlife veterinarian Kristine Smith of EcoHealth Alliance, a wildlife conservation and global health nonprofit group in New York City which led the study.

Some of the viruses they found included foamy virus -- a relative of simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV (elated to HIV), and herpes, including several new strains. Bush meat like that analyzed in the study has been known to carry Ebola and monkey pox, which remain a concern even though they did not show up in the initial samples.
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http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/13/10151806-smuggled-bush-meat-brings-viral-threat-to-us

corkhead
1. Let's drown the FDA in a bathtub so the meat industry has the FREEDUM to police itself.

{sarcasmthingy}

Right, GOP's fault

SOS
3. The penalties for this crime should be severe

The "bush meat" trade gave rise to HIV
http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pcbi.1000377

Draconian penalties should be publicized and strictly enforced.

Maybe some law enforcement resources in NYC could be diverted from arresting 50,000
pot smokers a year and assigned to rooting out the next pandemic at JFK airport?

HIV, with it's origins in this trade, kills 2 million people a year.
Seems like that should be a priority.

Of course it's a queer and pot deal. Always is.

drm604
2. Who the heck is importing primate, rodent, and bat meat?

There's really a market for it?

Swedes? Norwegians? Irish (well maybe)?

Must. Be. Culturally. Sensitive.

[mamacags]

What do you expect from the same morons who believe that raping infant girls will cure you of AIDS?  It isn't like they have an IQ higher than 12. 

[GOBUCKS]

What do you expect from the same morons who believe that raping infant girls will cure you of AIDS?  It isn't like they have an IQ higher than 12. 

You should all be careful. You're insulting the jug-eared Kenyan's base, the heart and soul of the modern democrat party.

 

[mamacags]

I would hate to upset the pedophile apologists, the hypocrites, the unwashed lice infected gutter rats, and parasites that love and vote for the biggest commie on the planet.  I think that kind of thing is unbecoming and totally unlady like