Congress: End the Overuse of Antibiotics on Farm Animals
- by: Alicia Graef
- recipient: U.S. Congress
Despite continued warnings from health officials about the risk of promoting antibiotic-resistant bacteria, antibiotics continue to be used on healthy farm animals who don't need them to compensate for filthy living conditions and to promote growth.
The problem with this is that animals receiving low doses of antibiotics on a regular basis become reservoirs for bacterial growth that can result in antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. These antibiotic resistant strains can than spread to us and they're posing a serious and deadly health risk.
According to the CDC, at least 2 million people get infected with antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria every year and at least 23,000 people die as a result of those infections.
Now four U.S. Senators are stepping up with Prevention of Antibiotic Resistance Act, legislation intended to curb their use that will require drug makers to prove that antibiotics we need that are used on farms don't contribute to antibiotic resistance, in addition to setting limits on how long they can be used.
Please sign this petition telling lawmakers to support legislation that will restrict the use of medically important antibiotics on livestock.
As someone who is concerned with both human and animal health, I am writing to ask you to support the recently reintroduced Prevention of Antibiotic Resistance Act (PARA).
Antibiotics are routinely given to healthy animals on farms in a nontherapeutic manner, or before they actually get sick, to compensate for filthy living conditions and to promote growth. The problem with this is that animals receiving low doses of antibiotics on a regular basis become reservoirs for bacterial growth that can result in antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
These antibiotic resistant strains can than spread to us and they continue to pose a serious and deadly health risk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, at least two million people get infected with antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria every year, while at least 23,000 people die as a result of those infections.
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration attempted to address the problem in 2013 with Guidance for Industry #213, the voluntary plan lacks the strength to provide any meaningful change in the way antibiotics are used on farms.
Among other things, PARA will curb their use and require drug makers to prove that antibiotics we need that are used on farms don't contribute to antibiotic resistance, in addition to setting limits on how long they can be used.
The overuse of antibiotics in agriculture has gone on for far too long and continues to pose an unnecessary risk to us by promoting antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. I sincerely hope you will support this critical piece of legislation to help keep humans safe and healthy.
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