Friday, September 27, 2024

EN — LARRY ROMANOFF: Biological Warfare in Action — Chapter 7 — US Bird flu


 

Biological Warfare in Action

Biological Warfare in Action

7. Chapter 7 – US Bird Flu

By Larry Romanoff

Content

7.1. The Official Story – Pathogen Spread by Wild Birds

7.2. Then: The Disclaimers

7.3. All We Need to do is Think

7.4. Epilogue

 

If consumers knew how farmed chickens were raised, they might never eat their meat again. Source

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In 2015, the US experienced an outbreak of bird flu viruses that affected domestic poultry, and more than 50 million birds died or were euthanised to prevent the spread of the virus. This was the first time that domestic poultry in the US had been infected with these particular strains of bird flu – H5N2 and H5N8. [1] [2] The virus first emerged in Minnesota, appearing almost exclusively in commercial turkey farms, and infecting several dozen locations almost simultaneously, but eventually including millions of turkeys and chickens in smaller establishments. [3] It then spread to about 25 other states, the NPR at the time claiming the outbreak was being driven by “farm-to-farm transmission” [4] though others blamed the outbreak on wild birds.

 

Another strain of avian flu, A(H5N1), emerged in the US in early 2022 and affected tens of millions of commercial poultry and backyard flocks. This was the worst avian-flu outbreak in US history. [5] [6] Flocks in 42 states were infected by the 2022 outbreak, twice as many as in 2015. Nearly 55 million birds were killed in this outbreak, some dying from the disease itself, but the vast majority being killed to stop the virus from spreading. This strain of the avian flu has spread nearly worldwide, limited outbreaks being reported in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. [7] The USDA said turkey farms accounted for more than 70% of the commercial poultry farms infected in the outbreak. [8]

 

7.1. The Official Story – Pathogen Spread by Wild Birds

 

Migratory birds

 

Wikipedia claimed that “Migratory waterfowl are assumed to have brought the disease to the Midwest”[9] The IBI Times gave a long dissertation on how “mass migration” of wild waterfowl over the central states in the US had “caused significant problems for bird farmers in its path”, telling us that “migrating ducks and geese are carrying a deadly flu and their droppings are somehow sickening millions of turkeys and chickens being raised in commercial birdhouses for food”. [10] Reuters doubled down on this theory, stating, “Wild birds like ducks transmit the virus through their feces, feathers or direct contact with poultry. Wild birds continue to spread [the virus] throughout the country as they migrate.” Further, that “85% of the cases were traced directly to wild bird origins”. [11]

 

The NPR continued to push this theory: “Scientists believe that wild migratory birds brought this virus to North America a few months ago. That’s because this particular flu virus seems capable of hanging around in populations of wild birds, which can pass the virus on to poultry farms.” [12] “Unlike the 2014-15 outbreak, this one is being driven by wild birdsnot by farm-to-farm transmission. For commercial and backyard flocks, many early infections centered along the intersection of the Central and Mississippi flyways of migratory wild birds. As those birds traveled, so did the virus.” [13] The WHO was also front and center in promoting the theory that AI viruses are shed in the feces and respiratory secretions. They can all be spread through direct contact with secretions from infected birds, especially through feces or through contaminated feed and water. Migratory wild birds, especially waterfowls, are the natural host and reservoir of avian influenza viruses. The main wild species involved in the viral cycle of avian influenza are waterfowls, gulls, and shorebirds, Direct exposure of farmed birds to wild birds is a likely transmission route of the virus. The WHO also blamed “Globalisation and international trade” as responsible parties: “The WHO believes the wave of outbreaks is the result of international trade, farming practices and migratory wild birds.” [14] According to the US CDC, the virus “appears well-adapted to spread efficiently among wild birds”. [15] Reuters reported one farmer who thought maybe “wind blew the virus in from nearby fields where geese defecated”.

 

Another thread to this argument, necessary to lend credibility to the basic theory, was that “[this is] a family of highly contagious viruses that are not harmful to wild birds that transmit it, but are deadly to domesticated birds … these birds do not typically get sick when they are infected with it, but when domesticated poultry, such as chickens and turkeys, come in direct or indirect contact with feces of infected wild birds, they become infected” (and die within 48 hours). [16] The WHO was here too: “…the virus can be harmless to the wild bird … When birds have little or no symptoms of the virus, it allows them to spread the viruses between neighboring countries or over long distances. Wild birds have spread the disease farther and wider around the world than ever before, likely carrying record amounts of the virus, said Gregorio Torres, the head of the science department at the Paris-based WHO [17] MSN told us “Direct exposure of farmed birds to wild birds (which are permanently infected) is a likely transmission route of the virus, according to the [WHO].” [18] Reuters particularly flogged this part of the theory – that wild birds can be infected but show no symptoms and never become sick, but they pass it to domestic birds who die almost instantly: “Waterfowl like ducks can carry the disease without dying and introduce it to poultry through contaminated feces, saliva and other means.” [19]

 

7.2. Then: The Disclaimers

 

Source

 

Beginning with Wikipedia, “Migratory waterfowl are assumed to have brought the disease to the Midwest, but how it made its way into poultry barns is undetermined. How it might be spreading from farms that are far away from one another is less understood at this time.  [20] The USDA apparently told TIME magazine that “Poultry operations have a very complex variety of inputs including air, feed, people, vehicles, birds, water and othersAny of these might be the pathway of virus introduction on any single operation.” Researchers are still conducting studies to learn how the virus is spreading to poultry operations. [21]

 

That has left government officials, farmers and researchers alike grasping for answers as to how the flu has continued to infiltrate birdhouses. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which coordinates with states in responding to the outbreak and also conducts research on bird flu, has no clear answers so far as to why the virus is spreading. “We cannot say definitely how specific poultry operations are becoming infected at this point. While wild birds have been blamed for carrying the virus, it’s not clear how it has continued to spread. The fact that the majority of birds struck by the flu have been hens and turkeys kept indoors on commercial farms and not those in backyard flocks indicates that wild birds are no longer the primary culprit. Jim Roth, director of the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State, said, “Migrating waterfowl don’t get into these large commercial operations. Something has to carry the virus in. It’s also possible that the virus was passed through infected feed.” “There’s some recognition that maybe [there are] other avenues of transmission,” said Dustin VandeHoef, communications director for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. “These [wild bird origins] are all theories at this point.” [22] A Japanese farmer near Tokyo said, “Avian flu is occurring even in a new poultry farm with modern equipment and no windows“. [23]

 

7.3.  All We Need to do is Think

 

 

There are some important things to note here, areas where the official story sounds plausible, but on reflection proves to be either idle speculation or complete nonsense. The migratory wild birds being discussed here are primarily ducks and geese, and anyone who knows anything about farming will tell you that wild ducks absolutely will not mix with domestic poultryYou can learn more by speaking to a duck hunter than by listening to either Reuters or the CDC. The wild birds do indeed have long flyways where they travel from Northern Canada all the way to Mexico or Central America, but they seldom stop. Even hummingbirds and Monarch butterflies will travel hundreds of miles on each leg of their migration journey, and Canada geese will travel 1,500 miles non-stop.

 

Further, when migrating waterfowl take a break in their migration and come to land, they will stay as far away from human habitation as possible. They do not search out the nearest KFC or chicken ranch. Typically, they will look for a wide-open area far from habitation, preferably a wheat field with a slough or pond so they can have food and water and a safe place to rest. In the worst typical case, they will be (at least) several miles away from any chicken ranch or turkey farm. We can concede that these wild birds will leave droppings in the wheat fields, but then are we to believe the domestic chickens and turkeys leave their houses or farmyards and run several miles to the wheat fields to frolic with the wild ducks and geese, and then eat the infected feathers or roll around in the feces and become infected? In fact, the domestic birds never leave their normal habitation, and certainly do not go roaming into the wheat fields where the wild birds rest.

 

In real life, the migratory birds rarely come to land, and there are never situations where the two kinds of birds would come into physical contact. As the Japanese farmer pointed out, birds were becoming infected in new farms with modern equipment and no windows – and absolutely no contact with wild birds of any description. And as the expert from Iowa pointed out, “Migrating waterfowl don’t get into these large commercial operations. Something has to carry the virus in.” Moreover, NPR’s statements of “farm-to-farm transmission” were clearly dishonest: that might happen between two adjoining farms, but a turkey farm in Iowa is not conducting “farm-to-farm transmission” with a chicken ranch in Missouri. Reuters’ claim that “85% of the cases were traced directly to wild bird origins” was an outright lie.

 

The best guess about the transmission vector for the virus, would be the feed, since it is normally sourced from some part of Big Agra. We might think that this could not affect small farms since they would typically be growing seed crops and would have their own bird food. But things are not always what they seem. There are six Big Agra companies that control the vast bulk of the poultry and feed in this context: TysonJBSSmithfieldCargillNational Beef, and Hormel. You may be surprised to learn that companies like Tyson, who sell millions of chickens every year, don’t actually have any chickens; everything has been sub-contracted and out-sourced. One website specialising in these matters states that “Ninety-six percent of broiler chickens in the US are raised under production contracts [in which] growers do not own the birds but instead raise them under contract with agribusinesses like Tyson.” In this situation, the growers (farmers) will sign a contract with a Big Agra firm to produce 10,000 chickens, or 50,000 chickens, and would be buying their bird food (seed) from or through the same company.

 

And now you can see the advantage of being able to splice H1N1 into bird seed[24] I have no proof this has happened, but there are no records of farmers sending their feed to laboratories for analysis. Why would such a thing happen? To eliminate small farmers and put a nation’s entire food supply into the hands of a few select Big Agra companies. Lest you think this is fantasy, let’s look at the larger picture. Salon Magazine produced an interesting article titled, “Massive livestock operations are taking over the country“. [25]

 

The US. Department of Agriculture says that meat and dairy monopolies currently exhibit unilateral control over the market with few limitations to their expansion and power. “80% of all beef production is controlled by only the top four suppliers. 99.9% of chickens are raised on factory farms. Overall, two-thirds of all meat production in the United States is  corporate monopolies”. The six Big Agra companies listed above “either drive competitors out of business or buy them out”. “Between the years 1970 and 2006, America lost 88% of its dairy farms.’ [26] [27] The number of dairy cows on factory farms doubled, and the average-sized dairy factory farm increased by half, between 1997 and 2012. The number of hogs on factory farms increased by more than one-third, and the average farm size swelled nearly 70 percent from 1997 to 2012. The number of broiler chickens on factory farms rose nearly 80 percent from 1997 to 2012, to more than 1 billionThe number of egg-laying hens on factory farms increased by nearly one quarter from 1997 to 2012, to 269 million. [28]

 

“Michigan provides a stark example: The number of factory dairy operations in the state more than quadrupled between 1997 and 2017 — and the total number of cows living on these operations increased eightfold. Yet today, Michigan has fewer than half as many small- and medium-sized dairies than it did 20 years ago. The average factory feedlot houses 4,000 head of cattle, but the largest ones can pack in up to 150,000 head or more at one time. In 1980, the top four beef-packing firms slaughtered one out of three cattle; this increased to four out of five by 1995 and remains steady to this day.” [29] [30]

 

Bill Gates’ efforts are tied into investing in synthetic dairy and lab-grown meats in the name of preventing climate change. Getty Images for The New York Times. Source

 

And here is a graphic display of the current situation of agricultural density in the US, most of this in the hands of the few Big Agra companies. In this context you might think also of reports of people like Bill Gates buying up hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland in the US, reportedly now the largest owner of farmland, with about 270,000 acres across 19 states[31]

 

The Consequences of Over-Crowding our Country with Factory Farms

 

Back to the bird flu: it seems apparent that the media flood about wild migratory birds being the cause, was just propaganda, idle speculation that appeared superficially plausible but that had no actual evidence to support it, and in fact many contraindications denying it. The question then is why the media, especially Reuters who are becoming famous for misinformation, and organisations like the WHO and the CDC (who also increasingly qualify as misinformation sources) would so strongly promulgate a theory they would have to know was fictitious. The only possible answer is that they are in favor of the increasing monopolisation of the human food supply in a few hands, and all are reading from the same script.

 

7.4. Epilogue

 

Once again, let’s consider the common signs used to identify a bio-warfare agent:

 

    1. Disease caused by an unusual, rare or uncommon pathogen. Certainly the 2015 outbreak would qualify, since it was the first time that domestic poultry in the US had been infected with these particular strains of bird flu – 5N2 and H5N8. 2022 was not better.
    2. Lack of an epidemiological explanation. i.e. no clear idea of source or origin; the wild bird cause was nonsense, and all authorities in the end admitted to being baffled as to the origin and cause.
    3. Unusual presentation or manifestation of the disease. In this case, in 2015 at least, it attacked only turkey farms initially, only later spreading to chickens.
    4. Unusual geographic or seasonal distribution; in both outbreaks, the virus struck simultaneously (or nearly so) in many locations and many states. No wild bird infection could manifest in such a manner
    5. Multiple epidemics. Simultaneous epidemics at different locations with the same organism, and thus highly suspect.

Millions of animals deliberately infected.

 

The necessary conclusion is that there had to have been a common element to have caused so many virtually simultaneous infections with the same pathogen in so many different areas, and the only common element I can identify would be the food source. I would have to say that there is also rational cause for doubt and suspicion when the “official story” is clearly nonsense, as it was in this case – and has been in so many others. The idea that the Big Agra companies, with support from these international institutions, would engage in such nefarious enterprises as infecting animal food, at first glance may appear preposterous, but there is evidence to support this hypothesis. In the next article in this series you will read about the outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in the UK, where it appears almost a certainty that huge numbers of animals throughout the UK were deliberately infected, and then nearly 15 million killed, with much informed speculation that this had to be a deliberate plan to benefit Big Agra. If you have doubts, I suggest you reserve your judgment until you read this next article. The information should shock you to the core.

 

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Mr. Romanoff’s writing has been translated into 32 languages and his articles posted on more than 150 foreign-language news and politics websites in more than 30 countries, as well as more than 100 English language platforms. Larry Romanoff is a retired management consultant and businessman. He has held senior executive positions in international consulting firms, and owned an international import-export business. He has been a visiting professor at Shanghai’s Fudan University, presenting case studies in international affairs to senior EMBA classes. Mr. Romanoff lives in Shanghai and is currently writing a series of ten books generally related to China and the West. He is one of the contributing authors to Cynthia McKinney’s new anthology ‘When China Sneezes’. (Chap. 2 — Dealing with Demons).

His full archive can be seen at

https://www.bluemoonofshanghai.com/  + https://www.moonofshanghai.com/

He can be contacted at: 2186604556@qq.com

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NOTES

[1] US Bird Flu Outbreak in Poultry: Workers at Higher Risk, CDC Warn

https://news.yahoo.com/us-bird-flu-outbreak-poultry-workers-higher-risk-235518139.html

[2] 2015 United States H5N2 outbreak

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_United_States_H5N2_outbreak

[3] 2015 United States H5N2 outbreak

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_United_States_H5N2_outbreak

[4] What we know about the deadliest U.S. bird flu outbreak in history

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/02/1140076426/what-we-know-about-the-deadliest-u-s-bird-flu-outbreak-in-history

[5] Bird flu is killing millions of chickens and turkeys across the US

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/04/bird-flu-is-killing-millions-of-chickens-and-turkeys-across-the-us/

[6] Bird flu kills close to a record number of poultry in the U.S.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-nears-record-poultry-deaths-bird-flu-virus-type-complicates-fight-2022-10-18/

[7] Bird flu: 50 million birds die in record US outbreak

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63785067

[8] Avian flu outbreak wipes out 50.54 mln U.S. birds, a record

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/avian-flu-outbreak-wipes-out-5054-mln-us-birds-record-2022-11-24/

[9] 2015 United States H5N2 outbreak

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_United_States_H5N2_outbreak

[10] Bird Flu Outbreak 2015: Deadly Virus’ Spread Sparks Questions On Biosecurity, Strict Sanitation Protocols At Poultry Farms

https://www.ibtimes.com/bird-flu-outbreak-2015-deadly-virus-spread-sparks-questions-biosecurity-strict-1910927

[11] Avian flu outbreak wipes out 50.54 mln U.S. birds, a record

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/avian-flu-outbreak-wipes-out-5054-mln-us-birds-record-2022-11-24/

[12] A worrisome new bird flu is spreading in American birds and may be here to stay

https://www.npr.org/2022/04/09/1091491202/bird-flu-2022-avian-influenza-poultry-farms

[13] What we know about the deadliest U.S. bird flu outbreak in history

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/02/1140076426/what-we-know-about-the-deadliest-u-s-bird-flu-outbreak-in-history

[14] Avian Influenza

https://www.woah.org/en/disease/avian-influenza/

[15] Ask the Expert: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/spotlights/2022-2023/avian-flu-highly-pathogenic.htm

[16] Bird flu is killing millions of chickens and turkeys across the US

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/04/bird-flu-is-killing-millions-of-chickens-and-turkeys-across-the-us/

[17] Avian Influenza

https://www.woah.org/en/disease/avian-influenza/

[18] The Bird-Flu Outbreak Still Isn’t Over – What to Know Before the Summer

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/fitness/the-bird-flu-outbreak-still-isn-t-over-what-to-know-before-the-summer/ar-AAVT6Ov

[19] Insight: Bird flu spreads to new countries, threatens non-stop ‘war’ on poultry

https://www.reuters.com/world/bird-flu-spreads-new-countries-threatens-non-stop-war-poultry-2023-02-15/

[20] 2015 United States H5N2 outbreak

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_United_States_H5N2_outbreak

[21] Everything You Want to Know About the Bird Flu Outbreak

https://time.com/3857283/bird-flu-outbreak-usda/

[22] Bird Flu Outbreak 2015: Deadly Virus’ Spread Sparks Questions On Biosecurity, Strict Sanitation Protocols At Poultry Farms

https://www.ibtimes.com/bird-flu-outbreak-2015-deadly-virus-spread-sparks-questions-biosecurity-strict-1910927

[23] Insight: Bird flu spreads to new countries, threatens non-stop ‘war’ on poultry

https://www.reuters.com/world/bird-flu-spreads-new-countries-threatens-non-stop-war-poultry-2023-02-15/

[24] The World of Biological Warfare — Chapter 4 – Genetically Modified Seeds (updated)

[25] America’s factory farm sh*tshow: Massive livestock operations are taking over the country

https://www.salon.com/2015/05/29/americas_factory_farm_shtshow_massive_livestock_operations_are_taking_over_the_country/

[26] It’s Time That We Factor Out Factory Farming

It’s Time That We Factor Out Factory Farming

[27] Factory Farms Continue to Dominate U.S. Livestock Industry

https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/05/27/factory-farms-continue-dominate-us-livestock-industry

[28] America’s factory farm sh*tshow: Massive livestock operations are taking over the country

https://www.salon.com/2015/05/29/americas_factory_farm_shtshow_massive_livestock_operations_are_taking_over_the_country/

[29] Factory Farm Nation: 2020 Edition

https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ib_2004_updfacfarmmaps-web2.pdf

[30] Map Reveals Massive Increase in Factory Farming

https://www.organicauthority.com/energetic-health/map-reveals-massive-increase-in-factory-farming

[31] Bill Gates is reportedly the largest farmland owner in America

https://nypost.com/2021/01/15/bill-gates-is-the-largest-farmland-owner-in-america-report/

 

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Copyright © Larry Romanoff, Blue Moon of Shanghai, Moon of Shanghai, 2024

 


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