Anthrax fines 'nothing short of craziness' DVM says

Falfurias, Texas-Dr. Michael Vickers changed the law on disposing of diseased food animal carcasses for rural veterinarians in Texas, but his battle with a Texas government agency still presses on.

Vickers was fined $9,000 by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commissionfor burning carcasses infected with anthrax and other diseases. It is therecommended method of disposal for diseased animals, and Vickers says hecalls the fines nothing short of craziness.

He is motivated to fight on. "I am going to take them to the maton this one," he tells DVM Newsmagazine.

Vickers was the veterinarian who first discovered the Ames strain ofanthrax, which was implicated in killing five people last fall due to letterterrorism attacks.

His case made it all the way to the New York Times, which is a long wayfrom Falfurias near Austin; his hospital, however, Las Palmas VeterinaryHospital, is about one mile down the interstate.

Vickers tells DVM Newsmagazine that officials from the state agency wereconcerned that the smoke from the carcasses being incinerated in an openpit was creating a nuisance. The agency also said that these carcasses werereally classified as municipal solid waste and should be disposed of ina landfill.

World Health Organization guidelines call for incineration as the recommendedform of disposal for suspected anthrax.

It is a disease that is not new to south Texas. In fact, 20 counties,over the last couple of years, have had anthrax cases in animals.

Vickers adds he has incinerated animals infected with rabies, brucellosisand anthrax, and therefore, simply will not comply due to the threat ofdisease spread.

"I said 'you people are crazy. I am not going to put these organismsinto a dumpster and send them down the road to kill somebody unsuspectingwho is handling this garbage.' I am not going to put these organisms ina landfill that could infect and kill somebody generations from now, whenthat landfill becomes a developed area."

Compelling arguments

His arguments were so compelling, a new law was crafted and implementedto give veterinarians in counties of populations of 10,000 or fewer theability to dispose of carcasses as they see fit.

Vickers says that the change to the law wouldn't have happened withoutthe help of Johnny B. Rogers of the Texas General Practitioners Association,a veterinary organization of a few hundred rural practitioners. Two statelegislators made it happen too, Senator Judith Zaffirini and Rep. Rick Green,Vickers says.

So, what did it cost? Vickers says prosecuting him for a $9,000 finecost the state an estimated $100,000. Vickers hired a lawyer. Fortunatelyfor him, the lawyer, a friend for many years, also owns 100-head of cattle,50 dogs and 20 horses. According to Vickers, they have agreed to exchangeprofessional services.

No guff

Vickers isn't taking any guff either about the matter. "They arewrong," he says emphatically. "They are trying to force me tobreak my veterinarian's oath. They are trying to get me to endanger thelives of human beings and other animals and wildlife populations by thisstand. This is much larger than a fine for Mike Vickers. This is an indictmentof public health."

Vickers adds, "I am the first one they have ever come after. IfI lose this case, I guarantee you, I won't be the last."

Vickers administrative hearing on the fines is set for July. He adds,that the law needs to be changed regardless of the outcome to his case.

"Veterinarians are the first people to come into contact with thesepathogenic germs, and veterinarians need to be the first people to destroythem."