From: Marisa K. Chelius [Chelius@facstaff.wisc.edu]
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 4:21 PM
To: EXECSEC
Subject: antibiotic use in agriculture

Dr. Henney-

As a microbiologist aware of the rise in antibiotic resistant bacterial
strains created by the misuse of antibiotics, I would like to see a serious
effort on the part of the federal government to regulate the use of these
drugs in agriculture.  To date, there is no federal antibiotic reporting
system and therefore no real assessment of the use of these drugs in
agriculture.  Without this information, we can  not reliably assess the
problem and begin to control it.  Especially troubling is the over-use of
antibiotics on healthy livestock; approximately 70% of all antibiotics are
used for non therapeutic purposes such as growth promotion. 

I urge you to institute a federal antibiotic reporting system and make this
the top priority for the incoming administration.  Without this system we
can expect to see increased misuse of these drugs and a concomitant rise in
antibiotic resistant strains that endanger the health of our nation as a whole.

Sincerely,
Marisa Chelius
 



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Marisa K. Chelius, PhD
Department of Agronomy
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Wisconsin, Madison  

Phone: 608-278-9979