Saturday, December 6, 2014

Hanta Virus and the Department of Homeland Security

Hantavirus is a nasty bit of work with about a 10% kill rate but it makes you hella sick regardless.  It took down thousands of GIs during the Korean Conflict.  The virus is usually carried by small rodents and is spread by unclean living conditions (e.g. contact with rodent feces, etc).  (WIKI:  Hantavirus)

We all know what the Department of Homeland Security does, yes?

(Ed:  nothing?)

Right you are.

However, having a team of outdoor cats is like your own Homeland Security that actually does something.

(Ed:  if I get hantavirus from a cat or a rodent, why should I care as I'm still sick.)

That's the beauty part as the cats are the Hantavirus laundering system.  They are immune to it and cannot transmit it to humans either directly through contact or through cleaning out the shitterbox.  It's even more of a beauty part as outdoor cats don't need a shitterbox.

There is still one problem as cats do love to bring trophies.  If a cat kills an infected mouse and brings it to you as an offering of love then that mouse still has the potential to infect you.

(Ed:  what's Christmas about this?)

Stayin' alive.  Oh, oh, oh, oh, stayin' alive.

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