2 cows killed in Anthrax outbreak, Saskatchewan, Canada

[Ian David]

GLIDE Number: BH-20070217-9937-CAN
Date / time: 17/02/2007 04:45:12
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: North-America
Country: Canada
State/County: Province of Saskatchewan
City: Unknow
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured: None or unknow
Damage level: Minor

Description:
Two cows died of anthrax last week. One was in the Prince Albert area and the other in the Rose Valley-Archerwill District.

Last summer, about 800 head of livestock died in northeast and north-central Saskatchewan. It was the province's worst recorded anthrax outbreak in history. Those deaths occurred after anthrax spores in the soil were ingested during grazing. The new cases occurred when the two cattle ate feed containing spores.

Dr. Sandra Stephens is a veterinarian with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (CFIA) She says the spores could have gotten into the feed in a number of ways. Mud could have stuck to the bales in the field, the soil could have been incorporated in the feed during baling or standing water could have transferred the spores from the infected soil.

Anthrax spores can remain in the soil for years and more cases are expected this summer. Winter anthrax cases are unusual, but Stephens says there was a single case in 2004. Both herds were vaccinated for anthrax last summer. However, Dr. Stephens says some cows may not produce enough antibodies.

It is also possible that the vaccination for the affected animals may have been missed or not properly given. The vaccine manufacturer says their product is effective for a period of 6-12 months. Dr. Stephens says producers should watch their animals and report any sudden deaths.

More:
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?lang=eng&id=9937

[Warpy]

1. The operative sentences

"Those deaths occurred after anthrax spores in the soil were ingested during grazing. The new cases occurred when the two cattle ate feed containing spores."

Inhaled anthrax in grazing cattle is a natural occurrence because they kick up dust and inhale it as they graze close to the ground. The old prevention was to keep ruminants of all types off infected fields for several years. Vaccinations have made that unnecessary. Likely this is the case of somebody trying to save extra bucks by either not vaccinating the herd or by watering down the vaccine. A vaccine resistant strain of anthrax is not out of the question, although it's a pretty remote possibility.

There is negligible danger to humans. Anthrax in humans is generally a skin infection. Non weaponized anthrax is huge and has a waxy coating over the spore and is very difficult to inhale deeply enough to cause fatal pulmonary disease.

[kestrel91316]

2. Naturally-occurring anthrax. Boring.