490: Bird Flu Facts: Its History and Use as a Tool to Instill Fear with Jacob Diaz
Sep 2, 2024
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Jacob Diaz, an independent researcher with a keen focus on public health, dives into the intricacies of bird flu. He discusses its historical context and the shocking reasons behind the mass culling of chickens. Diaz critiques the flawed PCR testing, suggesting it fuels public fear to maintain corporate power over food systems. He also highlights the struggles small farms face against giants in the industry and questions the evidence of bird flu's transmission to humans. Prepare for a thought-provoking exploration of health narratives and personal food choices!
Jacob Diaz emphasizes that environmental factors, rather than contagion from pathogens, are primarily responsible for health issues in factory-farmed animals.
The discussion critiques the narratives surrounding bird flu, arguing they undermine local farming practices while promoting dependence on large-scale agricultural systems.
Deep dives
Contagion Concerns and Bird Flu Myths
The podcast addresses the myths surrounding bird flu and its purported contagion, particularly the exaggerated claims about its transmission from animals to humans. Independent researcher Jacob Diaz highlights that there is little evidence to support the idea of significant contagion, citing studies that show animal-to-animal transmission is rare. For instance, claims regarding cats dying from bird flu after exposure to infected milk are dissected, with Diaz asserting that no credible proof links the illness to viral contagion. He argues that environmental factors, rather than pathogens, are primarily responsible for the health issues seen in factory-farmed animals.
Environmental Influences on Animal Health
The podcast discusses how the conditions in which factory-farmed animals are kept contribute significantly to their health and susceptibility to illness. Diaz notes that animals raised in poor environments, fed substandard diets, and subjected to unsanitary conditions often exhibit a range of health issues that are misinterpreted as flu symptoms. He draws a comparison to humans, asserting that poor nutrition and habitat would similarly affect human health. This emphasizes the point that rather than being caused by a virus, many health problems in farmed animals stem from their rearing conditions and inadequate diets.
The Manipulation of the Food Supply Narrative
The discussion also revolves around the broader implications of bird flu narratives on the food supply and public health. Diaz suggests that these narratives serve to discredit local and regenerative farming practices while promoting dependence on large-scale agricultural and pharmaceutical industries. He expresses concern that the ongoing focus on bird flu serves to distract the public from real food sources, effectively redirecting consumers towards lab-grown foods and processed alternatives. This shift aims to consolidate control over food production and reinforce reliance on corporate entities for sustenance.
Skepticism Towards Testing and Regulation
A significant aspect of the podcast is the skepticism surrounding the use of PCR testing to diagnose bird flu, which Diaz contends is unreliable and often misleading. He explains that the PCR test was designed for amplifying genetic material, not for diagnosing illness, and thus can produce false positives depending on the cycle threshold. This criticism extends to the regulatory measures that result in mass culling of birds based on limited evidence, creating unnecessary waste and disrupting local food systems. Diaz calls for a return to sourcing food from trustworthy local farms as a reliable means to ensure healthy eating and farming practices.
What's the deal with bird flu? Is it actually something we should be worried about? What's the history of it? And why has there been a focus on it and why have millions of chickens been slaughtered because of it?
Jacob Diaz, an independent researcher, explains today some of its history. He goes over what has happened this time around (and when initial bird flu "outbreaks" took place in the 2000s). He covers the flaws in the PCR testing and the logic of the supposed sickness and how the fear may be a tool to influence us to rely on Big Food and Big Pharma, rather than on independent small farmers and our own wherewithal for our health.
Side note: Since this interview was recorded, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Monkeypox a “public health emergency of international concern.” We would put Monkeypox in the same category as the bird flu: a tool to instill fear and designed to coerce the public into getting unnecessary vaccines.