Biological Hazard - State of North Dakota, [Adams County] : Anthrax - Bovine

Earth Watch Report - Biological Hazards

 English: Hallaway Dairy Farm in Delhi, New York, USA, September 1999. USDA Photo.
 ***Photo is simply a representation of Cattle in the US

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06.06.2013

Biological Hazard

USA

State of North Dakota, [Adams County]

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Biological Hazard in USA on Thursday, 06 June, 2013 at 05:41 (05:41 AM) UTC.

Description
North Dakota’s first case of anthrax this year has been confirmed in Hettinger County, and the state veterinarian said conditions are right for more cases. "A case of anthrax in an unvaccinated beef cow has been confirmed ... near the Adams County line, the first confirmed case in the state this year," said state veterinarian Susan Keller. "Producers should consult with their veterinarians to make sure the vaccination schedule for their animals is up to date," she said. Beth Carlson, deputy state veterinarian, said anthrax - which is caused by a naturally-occurring bacteria - is spread when animals graze or consume forage or water contaminated with spores produced by the bacteria. With the amount of rain received in the state, Carlson said, the water will move those spores around, increasing the chances of more reports. "Certainly, we will not be surprised if we see more cases," she said. Carlson said if producers have had a history of anthrax in their area, they should consult with their veterinarian on vaccinations. She said the vaccine is relatively inexpensive and very effective, but needs about a week to take effect. Anthrax, however, moves rapidly and is fatal within a day of symptoms appearing. Those symptoms include labored breathing, weakness and staggering and bloody discharges from body openings after death. Carlson said each year there are some confirmed cases of anthrax in the state and it has been found in nearly every part of the state, although most frequently it occurs in the northeast, southeast and south central areas. Cattle are not the only animals susceptible, she said. Sheep, horses, bison, deer - all animals that graze - are at risk. The worst outbreak of anthrax happened in 2005 when more than 500 cattle were confirmed to have died from the disease. Carlson said the death toll was likely more than 1,000 animals, however, because in cases when single animals died, those animals were not tested for the disease.
Biohazard name:	Anthrax
Biohazard level:	0/4 ---
Biohazard desc.:	This does not included biological hazard category.

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North Dakota top veterinarian reports first animal anthrax case of 2013

North Dakota agriculture officials is advising livestock owners to take the appropriate actions to protect their animals from the lethal bacterial disease, anthrax, after a cow turned up positive, according to a North Dakota Department of Agriculture news release June 5.

Image/Agricultural Research Service/USDA

“A case of anthrax in an unvaccinated beef cow has been confirmed in Hettinger County near the Adams County line, the first confirmed case in the state this year,” said Dr. Susan Keller. “Producers should consult with their veterinarians to make sure the vaccination schedule for their animals is up to date.” Keller said effective anthrax vaccines are readily available, but that it takes about a week for immunity to be established, and it must administered annually. Anthrax has been most frequently reported in northeast, southeast and south central North Dakota, but it has been found in almost every part of the state,” she said. “With the precipitation we have had, conditions are right for the disease to occur,” she said. Anthrax is a pathogen in livestock and wild animals. Some of the more common herbivores are cattle, sheep, goats, horses, camels and deers. It infects humans primarily through occupational or incidental exposure with infected animals of their skins.   Read Full Article Here .... ....