Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
16 <br /> April 7, 1997 <br /> Senator R. L. Martin <br /> Legislative Office Building <br /> 300 North Salisbury St. <br /> Raleigh, NC 27601 <br /> Dear Senator Martin, <br /> I am writing to encourage your support for the addition of a second Public Health <br /> Veterinarian in the Division of Epidemiology of the Department of Environment, <br /> Health, and Natural Resources. Funding for this additional position will be <br /> considered in the Expansion Budget for the department. As I understand the <br /> proposed funding, the additional cost would be partially covered by appropriated <br /> funds and partially by an increase in charges for rabies tags. <br /> Dr. Lee Hunter is currently the only Public Health Veterinarian in the department <br /> and the rabies epidemic has significantly increased his workload. Dr. Hunter is <br /> the foremost North Carolina authority on incidence of rabies in different <br /> geographic areas and in different animal species. He is constantly involved in <br /> discussions with practicing physicians and health department officials regarding <br /> decisions to provide post exposure treatment to people that have had animal bites <br /> or other contacts. He has consulted on this subject with ECU physicians on many <br /> cases and has assisted them in determining the advisability of treating <br /> individual patients. I have been consulted on rabies treatment by local <br /> physicians and have contacted Dr. Hunter on several questionable cases. Dr. <br /> Harry Adams, of the Department of Medicine, and I have presented rabies talks to <br /> several physician groups and we find that Lee Hunter has also been consulted by <br /> many primary care physicians in Eastern North Carolina as the epidemic has spread <br /> through our area. One physician in an eastern county related the story of Dr. <br /> Hunter arranging for delivery, by the Highway Patrol, of rabies vaccine for <br /> treatment of a child on a weekend. <br /> In addition to consultation on treatment, Dr. Hunter is a valuable resource for <br /> us in providing up-to-date information on rabies cases by county and species of <br /> animal. Dr. Adams and I have used this information in speaking to physician <br /> organizations, medical school faculty meetings, and to medical students. Lee <br /> has also visited the School of Medicine and co-presented an extensive discussion <br /> of rabies with Dr. Tim Monroe (past Director of Pitt County Health Department) <br /> when the epidemic first moved into this area. <br /> In addition to rabies, Dr. Hunter is involved in statewide studies of other <br /> diseases of animals that are transmissible to humans. He is currently part of <br /> investigations of Q-Fever (a bacterial disease of sheep) and Brucellosis (a <br /> bacterial disease of cattle and swine -- also called Undulant Fever in humans) . <br /> He has investigated various other diseases of humans when the sources of the <br /> infections were thought to be pets, wild animals or livestock. As you know, his <br /> Division is primarily concerned with human health and he is resg Bible for <br /> investigating the animal aspect when it is appropriate. <br /> Dr. Hunter contributes significantly to maintenance and improvement of human <br /> health in North Carolina. He is over extended with the rabies epidemic and we <br /> don't see that work load lessening in the next few years. The addition of a <br /> second veterinarian in that office is strongly recommended and I encourage your <br /> support. As always, your consideration is appreciated. <br />