7/19/2004: Avian Flu in Vietnam
 

http://cellar.org/2004/vietnamesedux.jpg

IotD always picks up food-related concerns for some reason, but when I saved off the above shot, I thought it was interesting only because of how the guy is transporting his livestock to market. The next day I found out what happens when he gets there:

http://cellar.org/2004/vietnamesedux1.jpg

The ducks get a snootful of disinfectant, that's what.

What this treatment actually is, and why it's supposed to be effective against a flu, I have no idea. But the pictures are interesting, no?

By my experience of vietnamese health standards, I'd say it's leftover DDT.

Affflaaaa aaaccck aaaack aaack!

...and I think the 'guy' is a woman.

...yeah. See, she's got breasties.

Perhaps it is a guy, but he's smuggling a couple of choice ducks in his tunic to avoid the disinfecting process, hoping to bring higher prices in the exotic and dangerous food markets of Southeast Asia?

As far as already-infected ducks go, dousing the ducks like that to disinfect from avian flu is kinda like taking an antibiotic shower for a lung infection...isn't it? Or then again...I'd imagine quite a bit gets into the duck from inhaling mist or getting it pressure-sprayed up the snout.

I don't think they're concerned with what's inside, as they aren't trying to cure the duck, they're going to kill it. What concerns them is what's on the outside that might be passed along to other critters or humans. ;)