Kevin Gibbs wrote:

>Thanks Bill
>It is my understanding the Chinese can buy any animal medication over the
>counter, antibiotics or whatever. No prescription, no vet, no doctor.
>
One can do much the same thing in Mexico.  Go to San Diego, cross the
boarder.  Go to a pharmacy.  Ask for metronidazole or ciprofloxacin -
you will receive the meds no problemo.

>>but SARS seems to fit the profile of misused
>>antibiotics.
>>
Nope - Sars is a virus, and has nothing to do with resistant bacteria -
at least according to the fine investigative reporting on NPR.  Search
for SARS, coronavirus.

>> It might not be, but based on what is being found in honey
>>and other food coming out of China, the mis-use of antibiotics seems to
>>be cultural and either not a problem of or encouraged by the government.
>>
It is largely an economic issue.  I know Americans who take poor care of
their pets and their livestock beacuse they cannot or will not afford a
veterinarian.

Quick - show of hands - how many people put Oxytetracycline in their
hives this year

 Counting . . . . . lots.

How many used a veterinarian to determine that they needed to?  Wow -
feel the breeze created by so many hands dropping?

>>And that is scary, not just for beekeepers but for the world's population.
>>
Ditto . . . . . misuse of antimicrobials anywhere affects us all -
whether you do it in China, or the US.

Keith

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