The FDA has announced plans to cut down the use of some antibiotics in disease prevention in cattle, swine, chickens and turkeys beginning this April, according to an article in E–The Environmental Magazine.
There is a growing concern in the medical community that overuse of antibiotics in livestock is contributing to a public health threat in the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
Melinda Bookwalter says
Duhhhhh…..
From the article:
“This is a modest first step by the FDA, but we’re really just looking at the tip of the iceberg,” said Congresswoman and microbiologist Louise Slaughter (D-NY). “We don’t have time for the FDA to ploddingly take half-measures. We are staring at a massive public health threat in the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. ”
Yes, it is but a small first step as the class of antibiotics that is being targeted represents less than 1% of the drugs being administered. Let’s hope that this one small step leads to a giant step.