Farmers accused of ‘abusing cattle drugs’

“IT’S time to take the syringe out of the farmer’s hand — he should by now be aware of the dangers.”

That was the message from Dr P.B. O’Meara, Chief Medical Officer of the Southern Health Board, this week 40 years ago. In comments that resonate strongly today, Dr O’Meara addressed the alarming health hazards resulting from the uncontrolled use of drugs in animal husbandry.

In a paper delivered to the Irish Veterinar y Association annual conference, Dr O’Meara said the overuse of antibiotics was leading to an increase in bacterial resistance to the drugs.

“The threat of transferable drug resistance is greatest where there is least control of antibiotics.”

There is conclusive evidence that residues of antibiotics in milk and meat can result in a build-up of resistance in the human of which he is totally unaware until he contracts a specific disease and needs treatment, continued the

repor t. Dr O’Meara added that the campaign to control the misuse of drugs couldn’t be regarded as a dramatic, once-off activity.

“It has to become a normal and on-going part of medical, veterinar y and pharmaceutical ser vices...a responsibility also rests on farmers, farm organisations, drug manufacturers and politicians to combat this major public health problem.”