March 27, 2009
The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Agriculture
The United Sates Department of Agriculture
14th Street and Independence Ave SW Room 200
Washington, DC 20250-1300
Dear Secretary Vilsack:
As you know, Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) was diagnosed on December 10, 2008, in a stallion which had moved to Kentucky for the 2008 breeding season. Since that time, the disease has also been found in Indiana, Texas, Wisconsin, Georgia, California and Illinois with 13 stallions and 3 mares testing positive. Nearly seven hundred horses in forty-six (46) states have been determined to be exposed to the causative bacteria, Taylorella equigenitalis.
CEM is classified as a foreign animal disease. As such, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) should assume an active leadership role in the management and financing of the response to eradicate it.
This incident has placed a heavy burden on horse farmers and state animal health officials due to the considerable costs and time associated with the required testing protocols. While states are grateful that APHIS has provided funding for diagnostic testing, has facilitated communication and information sharing, and has made regional and local staff available for epidemiological studies and animal traces, additional funding is needed to relieve the hardship being felt by owners and state governments. Limited funding as well as the lack of adequate resources for planning and response has placed the nation’s equine industry at risk of CEM becoming established and endemic in the US.
For that reason, NASDA respectfully requests that the USDA make available the monetary and personnel resources that are needed to fully and rapidly respond to this disease incident. In particular, we urge USDA to fund and collaborate with the states in:
1) Thoroughly investigating the current (2008-2009) CEM incident,
2) Completing the testing and treatment of all horses identified as infected, exposed and at risk of exposure,
3) Tracing the outbreak of this disease to its origins, and
4) Expediting the return of the United States to CEM Free Status and thereby facilitating the return to pre-outbreak international equine trade and travel.
CEM is a treatable disease that does not require sacrificing the animals; however, it is a costly enterprise to properly investigate, quarantine, test and treat affected animals. Full and adequate funding for all aspects of the current situation is needed, in some instances substantially beyond what is currently being provided; for example, USDA should indemnify horse owners for the cost of treatment to increase the likelihood that affected animals will not remain as a reservoir of the disease.
While NASDA is cognizant of the implications of declaring an animal health emergency due to CEM, we are concerned that absent a stronger signal from USDA that the agency is providing the resources to eradicate the disease, foreign governments may misinterpret the situation. Some believe that a contributing factor to the disease not being eradicated prior to the breeding season was the lack of preparedness and commitment available to deal with this outbreak. We believe that it is imperative that actions be taken to eradicate this disease as quickly as possible. As always, NASDA stands ready to assist USDA in any way to develop a program that will return the US to CEM Free Status.
Sincerely,
Ron Sparks,
President, NASDA & Commissioner,
Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries