Over 50 million birds dead due to avian flu. Yet vaccines are discouraged. Why?

A report today stated that 50.54 MILLION birds have died in the U.S. this year due to the avian flu. It’s the deadliest outbreak in U.S. history according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). If you look deeper into the story and do a little bit of research, the picture gets dark indeed.

First, the VAST majority of birds that die from this deadly disease are factory farmed chickens, turkeys, ducks and other birds. Factory farmed means these birds are kept in huge sheds, with little to no access to sunlight, dirt or even room to spread their wings or to stand up and move about freely. Their “living” conditions are beyond cramped and are considered by many to be inhumane.

This environment is a breeding ground for disease, just as refugee camps with people stacked upon each other are as well. It’s impossible not to make this kind of comparison.

Second, quick research revealed that according to an article from the National Library of Medicine, a “variety of vaccines have been developed and tested under experimental conditions with a few receiving licensure and field use following demonstration of purity, safety, efficacy and potency.” The same article states that “the use of vaccines against avian influenza viruses in birds has been discouraged over the years.”

So let’s get this straight. It’s more economic to slaughter millions of birds than to dedicate funding and time to finding a preventative that will save millions of lives and protect them from disease and death? It’s all about what’s easiest?

The more I read about this continuing slaughter – be it wild birds, who also seem prone to this scourge unfortunately – the more my blood boils at the callousness of the situation – and at the acceptance of the public of these facts. Yes, they’re birds. They don’t walk on 2 legs; they don’t speak the same language or have the same culture as we do.

But make no mistake. Science has already found that birds feel, they form relationships, they have their own favorites and preferences and they bond with humans if given a chance. So what makes us not have compassion for these creatures? What has us look at them as commodities to be discarded because they’re sick rather than buckling down to find a cure?

An even better question: how long will we humans continue to accept slaughtering animals for whatever reason – be it due to illness or threat of illness, economics or simply lack of wanting to take care of them anymore? We wouldn’t accept this behavior. If it was young children in these dire situations. Animal welfare / rescue organizations would scream and jump into action if it was companion animals such as dogs, cats or horses. So why do we accept this when it’s winged animals?

I know. This is a rant. But as a caring sentient being, as a practicing Buddhist, as a regular human being, I cannot sit by and simply accept that this is “the way things are”. It is inexcusable to me that millions – let me say it again – MILLIONS of innocent creatures meet a terrible death because human beings look the other way for whatever reason.

I challenge you the reader to speak up. Jump on social media and yell at the powers that be – the institution of factory farms, the USDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and whoever else you can think of. Demand that they DO SOMEETHING to stop this horrendous callousness, this abhorrent slaughter.

Do NOT think that your voice won’t count. Too many think that and nothing gets done. BUT one voice raised can start a movement. And many voices raised gets the attention of those in power – politicians pay attention; the media pays attention. So PLEASE speak up! We MUST stop this atrocity and NOT accept it a the way things will remain.

There’s hope for farmers who want to raise farm animals humanely

If you know any farmers, you know that earning a living is very difficult. Much money is spent – on equipment of all sorts, high labor costs and a myriad of other things – and the markets are volatile at best. Farmers who raise livestock – be it cattle, chickens or hogs – know that the demand from consumers for humanely raised animals is growing.

Change, however, costs money, something that’s usually in short supply for the American farmer.

But there’s hope out there and resources that farmers can reach out for to help them transition to a third-party certification of humanely raised farm animals.