WHO radio in Des Moines, Iowa airs The Big Show from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM on weekdays.  I happened to be listening today and heard the hosts discussing the swine flu.  If you are not familiar with The Big Show, it is agriculture-focused.  WHO has a long history and stellar reputation for its support and reporting of agriculture.

In their discussion of the swine flu, they were making observations about the severity of the outbreak, geographical location, and the different methods of raising pigs.

• Poor countries have small farms raising pigs outdoors.  (Implies this method of agriculture breeds disease.)
• The U.S. have large farms raising pigs in large, confined operations. (Implies this method of agriculture is safe.)

I don’t think that the means of production is causative of swine flu or H1N1.  The higher mortality rate in poorer countries most likely has everything to do with the general level of health in the population.

It is also a misnomer that people don’t raise pigs outdoors in the U.S. (although this is a rare sight anymore).  The Beginning Farmer  is from Iowa and his pigs enjoy the sunshine and green pastures!

The biggest worry in the U.S. is that people will infect the pigs! Yes, the worry at the large confinement operation is that someone will bring a virus into the barn and it will spread like wildfire in the close conditions.  They better watch out where their workers come from!