Anthrax has been confirmed in multiple beef herds located in Carbon County, Wyo. This is the first confirmed anthrax in Wyoming cattle since the 1970s. Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory (WSVL) confirmed the diagnosis on August 31. Both WSVL and private veterinarians were essential in the diagnosis of anthrax impacting several herds in the region.
“We have approximately 50 to 60 head that have died at this time due to anthrax,” Wyoming State Veterinarian Dr. Hallie Hasel told the Cowboy State Daily.
“It’s in a localized region at this time, but we are still investigating, and there could be other losses that we don’t know of quite yet,” she added.
Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a naturally occurring organism with worldwide distribution. The spore-forming bacteria may survive in the soil for years to decades, resulting in sporadic outbreaks which usually occur after periods of drought followed by heavy rain. Domestic and wild animals may become infected when they breathe or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water.
Clinical signs of anthrax in livestock include sudden death, weakness, staggering, difficulty breathing, fever, and bloody diarrhea.
“Multiple state agencies and private veterinarians responded quickly following the anthrax diagnosis by the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory. Protecting animal and human health is critical upon diagnosis of a zoonotic disease,” said Hasel.
“The Wyoming Livestock Board will continue working with producers and private veterinarians to reduce further spread and limit human exposure through recommendations for carcass disposal and vaccination. Anthrax vaccine is approved for multiple livestock species and highly effective,” she added.
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