This Man Makes Perfect Sense!

This letter from a veterinarian makes perfect sense.  So why are we letting 'political correctness' make decisions that leave us unprotected from diseases entering our country?  I truly believe there are those in authority whose main desire is to destroy this nation.

Lewiston Idaho veterinarian's 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 minglingwith 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 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