By Jamie Martin
Cattle producers across the nation are facing a growing animal health threat as theileriosis continues to spread. R CALF USA is urging the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine to grant emergency approval for the medicine buparvaquone.
The organization believes this treatment is urgently needed to protect cattle from a disease that has no approved medication in the United States.
Theileriosis entered the country in 2017 through the invasive Asian longhorned tick. Since then, the tick has spread across the East Coast, the South, and several Midwestern states. While producers can use tick control products, there is no approved way to treat infected cattle, leaving herds at serious risk.
Buparvaquone, however, is a medicine with a long history of use in other countries. It is approved and trusted in many regions, including Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and several Pacific nations. The organization notes that safety standards could include longer withdrawal times to ensure food safety here in the United States.
R CALF’s Animal Health Committee Chair explains that producers face heartbreaking losses as cattle become sick and die without treatment options. He emphasizes that access to an effective medicine could prevent unnecessary deaths and protect farm livelihoods.
The group warns that the rising spread of the tick means theileriosis may become an even larger challenge if action is not taken soon. They urge the FDA to move quickly to authorize emergency use so veterinarians can begin treating infected animals and reducing the impact of the disease.
More producers are becoming concerned as the tick continues to expand its range, making approval of this medicine even more important for nationwide cattle health.
Photo Credit: r-calf-usa
Categories: National