Worldwide, the spreading of the swine flu has caused illness for over 10,200 people with at least
81 fatalities thus far. The country with the highest number of cases is the United States,with newly confirmed cases being added each day for a current total of over 5,700 in 48 of 50 states and an eighth death just confirmed.
In Japan, rising numbers of swine flu victims, now approaching 300,have prompted the closure of thousands of schools. Several more confirmed cases outside the Americas were reported in Australia, in addition to the first ever in Formosa (Taiwan).
As health officials take early steps toward such measures as vaccines, other experts are reminding of the origin of this virus years ago, in US factory farms.
Mr. Paul Shapiro, Senior Director of the Factory Farming Campaign for the Humane Society of the United States, explained.
Paul Shapiro – Senior Director of Factory Farming Campaign, Humane Society of the United States, VEGAN (M): I don’t have any doubt in my mind that there is a connection between the ways that we confine and abuse animals and public health threats. In fact, the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production, which was a very prestigious commission that studied these issues for two and a half years found that factory farming poses unacceptable
public health threats.
And it’s for that reason that the American Public Health Association, the largest public health group in the United States,has been warning for years about this.
And in fact, has called for a moratorium on construction of factory farms in the United States.
VOICE: With no factory farms, the chance for new mutations of influenza viruses would shrink dramatically, thus not only preventing human illness, but also stopping the untold suffering of the animals themselves.
Paul Shapiro (M): To the viewers, just know that every time we sit down to eat we can make a difference for animals, we can choose compassion or we can choose cruelty and that choice is up to us.
VOICE: We send our thanks to Director Paul Shapiro and the Humane Society of the United States, as well as all the others who are working to bring insight to this life-threatening situation.
Our prayers for the protection of those affected by the often tragic swine flu virus and that people the world over will soon discover the healthy ease of the vegan diet, guiding us to a safer future for all.