> Lewiston Idaho Veternarians Letter to the Editor re: Ebola, Nails > it! > > The present Ebola crisis in the world is frightening. I have submitted > the following letter to the editor of the Lewiston Morning > Tribune:Editor, Lewiston Morning Tribune: > > If I wish to import a horse into the United States from Liberia or any > African country other than Morocco, the horse needs to undergo a 60 > day quarantine period at a USDA approved quarantine facility prior to > mingling with the general population of horses in this country. Africa > has a disease called African Horse Sickness that does not exist in the > US; this is the way we have kept it out of this country. African Horse > Sickness does not cause disease in people, only horses; our government > has determined that it would be devastating to the US horse industry > if it were to come here. > > The United States (and virtually all other countries) require a myriad > of tests and often quarantine prior to bringing in a foreign animal. > > I cant legally cross state lines in the United States with a horse or > cow without a health certificate signed by a USDA accredited > veterinarian stating that the animal has been inspected and found free > of infectious disease. In most cases blood tests are also required. In > fact I cant legally cross the Snake River and ride my horse in Idaho > without a health certificate and a negative blood test for Equine > Infectious Anemia. > > Im not complaining; the United States of America, the States of Idaho > and Washington as well as the other 48 states take the health of our > livestock very seriously, and we have a very good record at keeping > foreign animal diseases out of our country. I am happy to do my part > to maintain biosecurity in our animal population > > If I am a resident of Liberia incubating Ebola, to enter the United > States all I need to do is present a valid visa, and lie when asked if > I have been exposed to Ebola. Within hours (no quarantine > required) I can be walking the streets of any city in the United > States. > > I feel very fortunate to live in a country that values our animals so > highly > > David A. Rustebakke, DVM
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 22:01:56 +0000
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