Letter of Complaint to Texas Department of Health, USFWS, Center for Disase Control - SNBL USA Biosupport, LTD, Everett, WA - Washington Facility Reports and Information - Resources and Links From Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! (SAEN)

4/23/12

FROM:
SAEN
1081-B St. Rt. 28 #280
Milford, Ohio 45015
(513) 575-5517
www.saenonline.org

TO:

Tom Sidwa
Texas State Department of Health
[email protected]

James Hampton
USFWS
[email protected]

Thomas George
Center for Disease Control
Via fax: 281-230-3879

Gentleman,

I am contacting you today regarding the deaths of several primates at the SNBL facility of Alice, TX (2103 FM 625, Alice, TX 78332). The deaths of these primates as disclosed in post-mortem records (attached) are clearly of a public health concern due to the nature of the diseases that caused the deaths.

According to the post-mortem documents for two of the SNBL primates, A10020, A10064, died of “Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex” or Tuberculosis. Primate F08057 died of polioencephalomalacia, or goat polio.

Obviously, deaths of non-human primates from tuberculosis are a major public health concern. This is due to staff at the SNBL facility going out into the population of the neighboring area. However, this is not the only potential concern because SNBL sells primates across the U.S. and therefore this contamination may have spread beyond their facility, potentially with every monkey that has been shipped out since the dates of death of these two animals, October and November of 2010.

Additionally, since the State of Texas is well-known for raising cows and other animals for human consumption, the primate death by goat polio in August of 2010, which is potentially communicable to cows and other ruminants, is also a major concern and public health risk.

The communicability of these diseases is not the only concern which must be addressed. The point of origin for these serious and potentially fatal illnesses must be ascertained as well. It is clear that the point of origin for all of these primates must be investigated as well as the treatment of these animals during their lives at SNBL. The handling of these primates must be investigated, the disposal of their bodies, and the disposition of all animals with whom they came into contact must also be analyzed.

Many questions must be addressed. Were any other animals sickened with these diseases? Did the infections spread beyond SNBL? Was the point of origin with the monkeys, or were these diseases transmitted to the monkeys by humans? Did the monkeys transmit any diseases to humans?

Clearly, the death of these primates generates many major public health issues which much must be addressed by your agencies in unison. I look forward to receiving the results of your investigations once they are completed.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T.,
Executive Director, SAEN

Attachments: Primate Records for primates A10020, A10064 and F08057

See also:

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Rats, mice, birds, amphibians and other animals have been excluded from coverage by the Animal Welfare Act. Therefore research facility reports do not include these animals. As a result of this situation, a blank report, or one with few animals listed, does not mean that a facility has not performed experiments on non-reportable animals. A blank form does mean that the facility in question has not used covered animals (primates, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, pigs, sheep, goats, etc.). Rats and mice alone are believed to comprise over 90% of the animals used in experimentation. Therefore the majority of animals used at research facilities are not even counted.

We welcome your comments and questions

SNBL USA Biosupport, LTD, Everett, WA

Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!
S. A. E. N.
"Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation"

Resources and Links
Washington Facility Reports and Information
SNBL USA Biosupport, LTD, Everett, WA
Letter of Complaint to Texas Department of Health, USFWS, Center for Disase Control

SNBL USA Biosupport, LTD, Everett, WA

Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!S. A. E. N. "Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation"

Resources and Links Washington Facility Reports and Information SNBL USA Biosupport, LTD, Everett, WA Letter of Complaint to Texas Department of Health, USFWS, Center for Disase Control

Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!
S. A. E. N.
"Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation"

Resources and Links
Washington Facility Reports and Information
SNBL USA Biosupport, LTD, Everett, WA
Letter of Complaint to Texas Department of Health, USFWS, Center for Disase Control