Lewiston Idaho Veterinarian’s Letter to the Editor re: Ebola, Nails it!

FSN ^ | 10/15/14 | David A. Rustebakke, DVM

[Heartlander]

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

I can’t 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 can’t legally cross the Snake River and ride my horse in Idaho without a health certificate and a negative blood test for Equine Infectious Anemia.

I’m 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

[petercooper]

bttt

[TheDon]

I feel very fortunate to live in a country that values our animals so highly.

LOL!

[mikrofon]

Many currently in authority also value ‘animals’ espousing certain religious views…

[Kenny Bunk]

I would ask the vet if it makes any difference if the horse is black.

[vetvetdoug]

We veterinarians have been saying this since the start of the outbreak. Veterinarians are steeped in epidemiology and disease control in populations and what the Obama administration and the CDC are doing is absolutely insane.

[null and void]

Bring out your dead! The Dark Man cometh! Bring out your dead! The Dark Man cometh! Bring out your......

(Since all records of obama's past were lost in a tragic boating accident and fire, no one can be certain that the guy in the red circle isn't him...)

Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.

The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.

So far the false positive rate is 100%.

At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.

*sigh* Such is life, and death...

[DouglasKC]

vWe veterinarians have been saying this since the start of the outbreak. Veterinarians are steeped in epidemiology and disease control in populations and what the Obama administration and the CDC are doing is absolutely insane.

It makes absolutely no sense UNLESS you really want an Ebola outbreak over here....

[Covenantor]

*mark*

[wastoute]

We have been very lucky so far, luck don’t last forever.

[thesearethetimes...]

Bump

[Smokin' Joe]

Ping...

A link to this thread has been posted on the Ebola Surveillance Thread

[Smokin' Joe]

Dogs and pigs, among other animals (fruit bats, non-human primates) can get the disease. Bats and 'bushmeat' are considered to be the place the outbreaks start, but dogs have been shown to be seropositive in outbreak areas.

Not much is understood about animal vectors for Ebola, but the idea of the disease getting into canine populations or in feral pig populations presenting a natural reservoir in the US has me concerned.

Do you know of any research past or present in this area? We found a couple of papers, but not much.

[Rodamala]

If your daughter wants to enter in the barrel racing competition... or dressage, or just to show the horse at your LOCAL county fair... she’ll need to show proof of a negative Coggins test result.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Apparently, the U.S. values livestock more than it does human beings.

PING!

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

TheDon:"I feel very fortunate to live in a country that values our animals so highly." "LOL!"

Some annimals are more equal than others.
I find it amuzing that she would knowing go where a pandemic exists, which affects humans, and then refuses to cooperate with health authorities.
I find it amuzing that she would 'scrub' her FaceBook and Linked-in page of her employment by the CDC or her Democratic party affiliation .
As I understand it , she arrived in the U.S. with a low grade fever, and she is currently asymptomatic.
Since Ebola fever doesn't occur in 12 % of the victims, she isn't out of the woods yet , in a manner of speaking.
Who states that another 12% don't contract Ebola until within a quarantine of 41 days.
So who do you trust ?: the CDC that supports "Open Borders" and no quarantine (her employer),
and the agency that has had to update its medical protocals because they were insufficient, or
WHO/& Doctors Without Borders who, from frontline expierience,have stated a 41 day quarantine is necessary.
Choose carefully, because your life may depend on it !!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[yorkiemom]

“I feel very fortunate to live in a country that values our animals so highly.”

Hilarious!

[yorkiemom]

Oh good, I’ve been wanting to confirm with a vet what my vet told me. He said it is getting harder for him to get some pet medications (biosol to be specific for my cat). He blamed Obamacare and new regulations. Do you experience the same thing?

[Buffalo Head]

Thanks for the post.