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numerous reports, it was stated that “salmonella is an
important cause of foodborne disease in humans throughout the
world and is a significant cause of morbidity, mortality and
economic loss” (2007). During that same year, Europe had over
5,500 reported cases of infected poultry. This comes across as
startling news, knowing that there is a potential for illness from
every egg and McNugget.
Similar to the spreading effect of the avian flu, salmonella is
an airborne illness. The salmonella bacteria can be found in the
saliva and fecal matter of any infected bird. When the bacterialladen excrements dry and then get disturbed into a dusty cloud,
the resulting dust carries the bacteria into the bodies of those
exposed. Avian Biotech, a company who specializes in avian
disease testing, elaborates: “[salmonella] has a greater chance
of spreading in overcrowded conditions, stale air environments,
nest-boxes, and brooders” (2009). This similarity between avian
flu and salmonella is clear: close quarters increase the risk of an
epidemic. One would think the solution would be to eliminate
the close-quarters system.
The explosion of food-borne illnesses has led the factory
farming industry to a different conclusion, which raises the
second controversy of human modifications. After the chickens