Possible link between swine flu and factory farms

Mexican and American health officials haven’t identified the source of the swine flu virus, but experts say factory farms may be a hotbed for such a disease.

As the new flu spreads across the globe, officials are searching rural Mexican villages for its origin.

Some, like grist.org, have already speculated the disease originated from a Smithfield Foods pig farm in Vera Cruz, Mexico, near the virus's suspected epicenter.

The pork farm raised 950,000 pigs in 2008, according to the Smithfield Web site.

However, Virginia-based Smithfield Foods is distancing itself from the flu with press releases saying none of its herds or help have been diagnosed with it.

University of Michigan Epidemiologist Mark Wilson told the Environment Report the starting point of H1N1 - swine flu - is still unknown, but factory farms could accelerated flu exchanges to humans.

“The combination of animals being confined in close quarters as well as the large number of animals is likely to lead to more transmission of infectious agents among them,” Wilson said. “And as people - workers - are in contact with these animals, the possibility of transmission from those animals to those workers is increased. Absolutely.”

The possible connection of this disease to mass-produced live stock comes at a time when fears of a global pandemic are on the rise.

The World Health Organization recently upped the panic level to a higher alert last week.

“All countries should immediately activate their pandemic preparedness plans. Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia,” WHO Director Dr. Margaret Chan said.

Check here for more updates on the swine flu from the Centers for Disease Control.

It’s impossible to make any accusations against Smithfield or other industrial meat producers before scientists determine the true origin of the flu.

On the other hand, it’s important to add this to the long list of problems with putting animals in assembly line-like settings. From the risk of infectious diseases to the overuse of antibiotics, factory farms are a breeding ground for health-related catastrophes.