Once again in North America the interests of corporations (money) are more important than the interests of humans (living healthy), as shown in the Wash. Post article about the introduction this spring of yet another antibiotic made for humans being used in animals. It’s a “last defence” drug, one that is used when nothing else works.

The drug is named Cefquinome, from the class of drugs known as cephalosporins, and is going to be used on cattle even though there are already a dozen drugs already available to treat the respiratory disease in bovines it is being approved for. Europe started using the drug in animals  about a decade ago, and they are now finding that the bacteria it is meant to fight against has already mutated and becoming resistant to it.

And the biggest kick in the butt to humans is that the reason cattle are susceptible in the first place to the respiratory disease it’s meant for, are from the practices of the industry itself. Close quarters while growing up, and long crowded rides to the slaughter house sometimes many thousands of miles away lower their immunity and they get sick, and the profit margin goes down.