Feral Swine - Washington State

[Maverick]

Looks like we are at the beginning stages of a problem, there have been multiple sighting and 1 attack. The feral swine is making a comeback in the Forest Service land that border my property, that's all we need is more problems.

 

[Proud Prepper]

Time to organize some feral swine trapping and get the smokers ready.

 

[Kevin L]

I love pork, but I worry about disease from feral pigs. Pork tapeworms can encyst in your brain, and cause eplilepsy and other untreatable neurological problems. There are a million other things that pigs carry

I know that thorough cooking addresses this, but do you want to trust your life to a chef's idea of what constitutes 'thorough cooking'?

 

[Kevin L]

Also, when it comes to feral animals...I don't understand certian things.

In Ocala Florida, for example, there are large numbers of feral monkeys that some idiot let loose decades ago, and they have reproduced very successfully.

Now here's the kicker: 40% or so of these monkeys are infected with herpes B...and please, no jokes from Beverly Hills Cop about "herpes simplex 10", because this disease is 80% fatal to people who contract it, and there is no cure and no vaccine.

The monkees are asymptomatic carriers that don't get sick from it.

I like animals, but these monkees are not even protected or endangered in their native environment...so I would kill every single animal on sight. I would even go so far as to organize a bounty for every one that's killed, and attract every hunter that wants to participate.

I'm not trying to sound bloodthirsty, but they carry a horrible disease.

People tolerate them because they're cute.

 

[DrHenley]

While all of that is true Kevin, you have to keep in mind that there have been only 31 documented cases of Herpes B in humans, even though the rhesus macaque is the second most widely distributed primate on earth after humans. Even in the rhesus macaque's native habitat where Herpes B is endemic, and there is frequent contact between humans and monkeys, the disease is extremely rare. The last fatality was with a primate center worker in 1997.

So, yeah, it's a scary disease, but you are far more likely to be run over by a train while being struck by lightning.

 

[Kevin L]

While all of that is true Kevin, you have to keep in mind that there have been only 31 documented cases of Herpes B in humans, even though the rhesus macaque is the second most widely distributed primate on earth after humans. Even in the rhesus macaque's native habitat where Herpes B is endemic, and there is frequent contact between humans and monkeys, the disease is extremely rare. The last fatality was with a primate center worker in 1997.

So, yeah, it's a scary disease, but you are far more likely to be run over by a train while being struck by lightning.

I'm sure, so perhaps I'm overstating the issue and having a degree of concern that isn't warranted.

Even so, I still tend to believe in what I posted because:

These animals are an invasive species.
Diseases that are epidemic now (like Zika, HIV, Lyme, and so on) seem like they were known when they were inconsequential, so they were ignored.

AIDS was ignored by the Regan administration because it only affected a small portion of people who had no voice (ie: gay men and IV drug users).

Even the 1918 flu epidemic started with a relatively few military people in close quarters.

My point is that any disease that has an 80% mortality rate should be nipped in the bud...before it becomes a big deal

I'm not bloodthirsty when it comes to animals, but these monkeys don't belong here, the predators that would keep them in check aren't here, and they aren't endangered in their native habitat.

I realize that herpes B has only killed 31 people, but doesn't this mean that we have a vanishing window to do away with this disease before it blows up and becomes more widespread?

I'm not trying to contradict you in your own field, but I think any disease that has an 80% mortality rate would be a concern post SHTF when there is no CDC and little or no public health authority to keep tabs...and probably little or no public education.

I feel like I should be concerned about this issue...as I live in Florida.

 

[DrHenley]

Kevin I agree that the macaques in Florida have no right to exist and should be exterminated.

But perhaps you will feel better if you read what the CDC says about it:
https://www.cdc.gov/herpesbvirus/transmission.html

Risk of B virus transmission to humans should be considered in the context of how rare infection occurs, even among broadly infected populations of animals. Hundreds of macaque bites and scratches occur annually in primate facilities in the United States, but B virus infection in humans is rare. In a study of more than 300 animal care workers, among whom, 166 reported possible transmission exposures to macaques, none of the workers were found to be B virus positive.

 

[Kevin L]

Kevin I agree that the macaques in Florida have no right to exist and should be exterminated.

But perhaps you will feel better if you read what the CDC says about it:
https://www.cdc.gov/herpesbvirus/transmission.html

Thank you.

 

[Kevin L]

I read the material on the link, and I realize it's rare, and my concern is probably overstated.

Just to play devil's advocate (as an exercise on my part), I want to point out that it seems like every widespread disease was rare at one time, and conditions post SHTF are going to condusive to to the spread of disease.

I believe that post SHTF that T.B., syphillis, influenza, typhoid, salmonella, and so on will become more of a problem as peoples' immune systems suffer from stress, malnutrition, untreated diabetes, hypertension, and so on.

People will be migrating as refugees (and spreading disease to new areas), there will be a shortage of medical care, and animal pests (vectors) will multiply enormously when there is a shortage of pestcides (and people who know how to use them), and well-intentioned people getting exposed to disease when they're trying to help people who are sick...and don't understand body fluid isolation (or universal precautions).

In these circumstances, why is it overstated to be concerned about simian herpes B despite its rarity?

I like the idea of being proactive.

 

[DrHenley]

It's all a matter of perspective Kevin. But if it eases your fears, I suspect the monkeys in Florida will quickly go extinct post SHTF from people eating them.

 

[Kevin L]

It's all a matter of perspective Kevin. But if it eases your fears, I suspect the monkeys in Florida will quickly go extinct post SHTF from people eating them.

Perhaps.

Or maybe they'll eat us?

 

[Psalm7]

Wild hogs have spread to Middle Tn from East Tn and North Ga but Iv yet to see any sign of Then here .
Wild hog is very good eating and its probably more likely someone would get sick from farm raised pork than wild just from over crowding and being enclosed .

 

[Kevin L]

Wild hogs have spread to Middle Tn from East Tn and Northern Al but Iv yet to see any sign of Then here .
Wild hog is very good eating and its probably more likely someone would get sick from farm raised pork than wild just from over crowding and being enclosed .

That makes sense.

In any case, I want my pork very well-done regardless of the source.

 

[Psalm7]

Pork , chicken and most everything well done . No sushi for me ever .

 

[Maverick]

Feral swine's are good eating just pay attention to your states wildlife biology report and inspect the meat for diseases, tapeworms etc... like you would do with any wildlife meat. I certainly won't let fear dictate my choices but I won't be complacent either.

 

[Kevin L]

Feral swine's are good eating just pay attention to your states wildlife biology report and inspect the meat for diseases, tapeworms etc... like you would do with any wildlife meat. I certainly won't let fear dictate my choices but I won't be complacent either.

I get your point, but I'm talking post SHTF.

I guess I have to decide where the line is between prudence and paranoia.

The line between these two viewpoints is a little fuzzy, but I still don't want to step over it.

I tend to overthink my food choices because--in the medical field--I see rampant obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, stroke, and so on...and I can't help but think that people bring these diseases upon themselves by what they decide to eat.

I think such issues will be more important post SHTF, but I still don't want to be paranoid.

 

[Maverick]

I get your point, but I'm talking post SHTF.

I guess I have to decide where the line is between prudence and paranoia.

The line between these two viewpoints is a little fuzzy, but I still don't want to step over it.

I tend to overthink my food choices because--in the medical field--I see rampant obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, stroke, and so on...and I can't help but think that people bring these diseases upon themselves by what they decide to eat.

I think such issues will be more important post SHTF, but I still don't want to be paranoid.

My stance doesn't change in a post-shtf, if it looks healthy and the meat don't appear tainted I'll eat it.

 

[Psalm7]

Most food born illness is from contaminated grain and spices.
Cook meat correctly and keep it in the safe temperature zones like 40f or below or 140 and above and do not keep it to long without freezing or curing .

 

[Kevin L]

My stance doesn't change in a post-shtf, if it looks healthy and the meat don't appear tainted I'll eat it.

I may not be comfortable with this, but, then again, I can always starve to death.

 

[Kevin L]

Most food born illness is from contaminated grain and spices.
Cook meat correctly and keep it in the safe temperature zones like 40f or below or 140 and above and do not keep it to long without freezing or curing .

Thank you.