Bird flu in pigs, are they going to fly?

I suspect not.

NPR is running a story today about the similarities of bird flu with the strain that caused the flu pandemic of 1918 which killed 20 million.

The Boston Globe ran a story similar to what kirsten mentioned. In it they mention that bird flu, swine flu and several human flu strains are VERY similar and the flu can mutate and move between species this way...

Yes but are we gonna fly?

WILL PIGS FLY?

They won't fly, but their oink oink days are numbered.

HMM... Allright people, STAY AWAY FROM THE PIGS!

You know what they say about how some diseases got spread from farm animals to humans.. *shudder*

Yah, I was going to mention swine flu, and so on.

I read some article a bunch of years ago that said why all this was a problem was the very close proximity of much of the population with the animals and their excrement. Even if people aren't right near it, it dries and wafts on the breeze, (or is that not a problem, can't remember..) Anyway, some areas are what I will call flu-beds, and, I gather, viri can switch hosts.

But, really, for pigs to fly, you'd have to have some gene transfer going on. Where is Monsanto when we need it?

Picking at their corns.

ok thanks for your considered replies people. Pigs dont fly.

what about those "speed limit enforced by aircraft" signs?

the p*gs here use helicopters. And they still break the speed limit

so, steve -- what ever happened to that proposal to close central london to all traffic except taxis?

When you, patiodog, mean the "congestion charging", there has been just some reports published today in the papers:

Speed UP business DOWN


and related

Accessibility good, London heritage bad

£5... Good lord. I'd just thought it was a plan to ban private vehicle traffic altogether. Article doesn't say much about what business is down, and how it compares to UK businesses overall. Disposable income in general was down, I thought -- and people don't drive into the middle of London for essential goods, I don't think...

One thing:


Was relieved to learn that a Routemaster was not a person.

You can die from bacteria,viruses and prions if you eat meat. You can also get poisonous molds & toxins from plants. Water can contain parasites and poisonous heavy metals.

The obvious answer to staying alive is to stop eating and drinking entirely.

Sharp post, Equus!

It's been said before, and it's worth restating (well, as worth restating as any other inanity): life is a terminal condition.

Patio

The Mayor's congestion charge has been a success. If you want to take a private vehicle into central London, you have to pay in advance. You buy the "tickets" at shops etc. Then when you drive through into the zone, the camera picks up your car registration number, and if you don't have a pass, you get a little (nasty) reminder or I think £80 fine.

I haven't taken a car into central London for ages. I always use the train/tube. But it is noticeable that traffic flows better in the centre.

However, medieval highway regulations (never repealed) allow you to herd ( for free) a flock of geese over London bridge or no more than 3 pigs and a piglet providing the geese are not pig sick and the pigs are not suffering from geese flu. Pretty sure I have that right.