Thanks for the updates. We only have one farm where H5N1 was confirmed in pigs and all five pigs on that farm were euthanized. As a pig farmer your economic losses from finding a dead H5N1 infected bird are totally different than if you are a cattleman. There are several mammal species now confirmed to carry the virus, some with lethal effects and some with no obvious clinical signs at all but of all those species only pigs are likely to be euthanized . Yes we know pigs can act as a vessel where genetic remixing can yield a far more dangerous virus for humans but I strongly believe it isn’t the only species that can do so. Maybe listing some of the other mammals that can carry common human viruses that also represent a risk of viral remixing with H5N1 needs some attention. I personally am working towards depopulating my pig herd before selling them becomes far more difficult, or impossible.
Thanks for the updates. We only have one farm where H5N1 was confirmed in pigs and all five pigs on that farm were euthanized. As a pig farmer your economic losses from finding a dead H5N1 infected bird are totally different than if you are a cattleman. There are several mammal species now confirmed to carry the virus, some with lethal effects and some with no obvious clinical signs at all but of all those species only pigs are likely to be euthanized . Yes we know pigs can act as a vessel where genetic remixing can yield a far more dangerous virus for humans but I strongly believe it isn’t the only species that can do so. Maybe listing some of the other mammals that can carry common human viruses that also represent a risk of viral remixing with H5N1 needs some attention. I personally am working towards depopulating my pig herd before selling them becomes far more difficult, or impossible.
let me get back to you in a few days when I get home. you raise an interesting point.
John