STAT+: Canadian lawmakers urge the government to suspend imports of long-tailed macaques
\n \t
\n
<\/BR>
\n
\n \t
\n
<\/BR><\/p>\n
A half-dozen members of the Canadian parliament are urging the government to immediately suspend imports of long-tailed macaques into the country over concerns the monkeys may be infected with tuberculosis and pose a biosecurity risk.<\/p>\n
In their Oct. 1 letter, the lawmakers cite reports that dozens of infected monkeys arrived in Canada between 2011 and 2014 due to a \u201cdiscredited\u201d screening system, and say the Canadian Food Inspection Agency \u201chas not strengthened oversight, imposed additional controls, or acknowledged the inadequacy of outdated testing protocols.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEvidence now confirms that monkeys infected with tuberculosis\u2026 are entering North America through the international primate trade,\u201d wrote the lawmakers<\/a>, who are all members of the Ontario New Democratic Party, an opposition party that describes itself as social democratic.<\/p>\n Continue to STAT+ to read the full story\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n