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Lewiston Idaho veterinarian's Letter to the Editor
re: Ebola.
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 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 bio security 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.
xxxxx, DVM
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