PETA calls for CDC chief's resignation

[CatWoman]

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/2006/12/04/1204MESHpeta.html

By ALISON YOUNG
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 12/04/06

Citing serious animal care problems recently revealed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the animal rights group PETA on Monday called for the resignation of director Julie Gerberding.

In a letter faxed to Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) cited serious problems — including monkey deaths from dehydration — dating back to 2002 uncovered in inspections by an international laboratory accreditation organization. The CDC's labs have been on probation since last year with the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care-International, the AJC reported last month.

"The CDC had been alerted to deficiencies in 2002 (the year when Gerberding first assumed directorship), yet still failed to measure up in the 2005 inspection," Laura Yanne of PETA's research and investigations division wrote to Leavitt.The group. based in Norfolk, Va., has 1 million members and has called for them to launch a letter writing campaign. The group says CDC needs to receive increased and unannounced inspections with results posted publicly.

CDC officials have said that Gerberding didn't know about the problems until August 2005, but then took sweeping actions to address them. "Nobody is more devoted to the proper and ethical treatment of animals in science than Dr. Gerberding," said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner. "Under her directorship the agency now has a world-class animal care and use program."

A spokeswoman for Leavitt did not respond to requests for comment about PETA's letter. The AJC has sought a wide range of documents about CDC's animal labs under the Freedom of Information Act since Oct. 12, but so far the CDC has released only a few selected records and none of its inspection reports.