6-10 IAN Super Bugs

 The Idaho Statesman picked up an article from the Chicago Tribune that said “Concern has been intensifying in recent years over the use of antibiotics in agriculture, which world health authorities agree contributes to the development of drug-resistant bacteria. These so-called superbugs infect hundreds of thousands of Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Legislation before Congress would rein in the use of medically important antibiotics on healthy livestock through mandatory restrictions as well as public disclosure of how antibiotics are used on animals and in what quantity.

But such efforts face resistance from the meat industry, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says the issue is better handled through voluntary guidelines it hopes to finalize this year, including more veterinary oversight.

Head veterinarian for the state of Idaho, Dr. Bill Barton: “Are we becoming more vulnerable to super bugs and does the agricultural link have something to do with that? You like to pick a loaded question on a Monday don’t you? Well I have never done you wrong. (Laughter)  I know. Very complicated issue When you start talking about anti-microbial resistance. there are so many factors that can play into a bacteria or a virus developing resistance to an antibiotic. I think certainly the agricultural livestock industries have a role in managing to prevent resistance to antibiotics. They certainly have a role.