Dangerous animal virus on U.S. mainland?

Ferretlover

Fears arise over government plans to move foot and mouth disease lab
By LARRY MARGASAK Associated Press Writer updated, April. 11, 2008
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is likely to move its research on one of the most contagious animal diseases from an isolated island laboratory to the U.S. mainland near herds of livestock, raising concerns about a catastrophic outbreak.
Skeptical Democrats in Congress are demanding to see internal documents they believe highlight the risks and consequences of the decision. An epidemic of the disease, foot and mouth, which only affects animals, could devastate the livestock industry.
One such government report, produced last year and already turned over to lawmakers by the Homeland Security Department, combined commercial satellite images and federal farm data to show the proximity to livestock herds of locations that have been considered for the new lab. "Would an accidental laboratory release at these locations have the potential to affect nearby livestock?" asked the nine-page document. It did not directly answer the question. ...
Necessary move or preparing to unleash pandemic?
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RonMN

Sheeesh...what's next? Ferret flu? Laughing

<edit> sorry...I couldn't resist Smile

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Ferretlover

You beast! Razz

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sicophiliac

Damn, I knew Bush was one incompetent corrupt and reckless SOB after all of the other things his administration has done (I need not make a list) but now this ? Whats next? he going to use our elementary schools as dumping grounds for nuclear waste?

PhebaAndThePilgrim

Here in central Mo. there was an effort to entice this bio-containment lab to the Columbia area. The University of Missouri offered some prime real estate and the city fathers also were very enthusiastic.
Missouri, being the second largest cattle state in the US after Texas, as well as other large numbers of livestock species, besides the site being in the city limits of Columbia was a terrible location.
A concerted effort by several activists and the local community owned radio station ( KOPN) caused enough loud dissent that this site was deleted from the list.
All of the sites are and were situated in areas that the wind would have spread any accidentally released contaminates across areas where the host animals are husbanded.
Plum Island was suggested to be modernized since it is off the coast where the prevailing winds would take any release out over the Atlantic to be dispersed.

Tucker · Tar Sands Joined: Jan 29, 2008 Posts: 56 Location: Orygun

Ferretlover

RonMN

ya have to admit (well, I do anyway) that while testing on animals can be horrific...people get huge benefits from that. Many people are alive today because of it.

Sooooo, while i think it's ghastly...I'm not one who really opposes it. (shame on me...i know...iknow...)

Hell, if we can eat 'em... Smile

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Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.