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Articles: Press Release
Summertime is Anthrax Time in Texas-
Vaccinate Livestock Now in Val Verde, Crockett and Surrounding Counties
Contact:
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966
Austin, Texas 78711
(800) 550-8242 FAX (512) 719-071
Bob Hillman, DVM • Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242,
ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us
It's the same song, yet another verse for naturally-occurring anthrax
cases
in livestock and wildlife in Val Verde and Crockett Counties in Southwest
Texas. A little rain, a lot of hot weather and the invisible, spore-forming
bacteria Bacillus anthracis has resurfaced, putting unvaccinated livestock
and grazing wildlife at risk in the area.
"Anthrax has been confirmed in a pen of deer in Val Verde County, and in a
Charolais bull in Crockett County. We know that that anthrax often goes
under-reported, as we hear of anecdotal reports of livestock or deer losses
without laboratory confirmation. Many ranchers forego the veterinary
inspection and laboratory tests, and, instead, just begin vaccinating,"
reported Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas' state veterinarian and head of the Texas
Animal Health Commission. "Anthrax cases are not unusual, but a
laboratory
confirmation should alert ranchers and livestock owners that it is time to
vaccinate their animals in Val Verde, Crockett and surrounding counties."
"Vacationers and hunters get concerned about anthrax, but there is no need
to worry, if proper precautions are taken," said Dr. Hillman. "If you
travel to an area where an anthrax case has occurred, avoid touching or
handling sick or dead animals, don't pick up bones or shed antlers, and
don't swim in ponds or streams where there are dead animals nearby. The
same advice goes for your pets, too. By the time hunting season starts,
cool weather usually puts an end to anthrax cases. Always harvest only
healthy-looking animals."
Anthrax is a reportable disease in Texas. While laboratory tests, conducted
by the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in College Station,
are needed to confirm infection, suspected cases also are to be reported to
the TAHC at 1-800-550-8242, where a veterinarian is on call 24 hours a
day. If an outbreak occurs in dairy animals, producers are to call the
TAHC immediately.
Dr. Hillman explained that anthrax is naturally occurring around the
world. After an animal dies from the disease and isn't properly burned,
the bacteria will lie dormant in the soil. The anthrax bacteria resurfaces
on grass or forage only under ideal weather and soil conditions during
spring and summer months. By the time an animal ingests the anthrax
bacteria and exhibit staggering, trembling or convulsions, death is
inevitable. TAHC regulations require that the animal carcasses, manure and
bedding be incinerated. This will keep wild animals from being exposed to
the disease, and it will also kill the bacteria, preventing another site
where the anthrax can resurface.
Most of Texas' anthrax cases occur in a triangle bounded by Uvalde, Ozona
and Eagle Pass, which takes in portions of Crockett, Val Verde, Sutton,
Edwards, Kinney, Uvalde and Maverick counties. However, Dr. Hillman said
anthrax can occur anywhere. Among the cases confirmed this summer are
several horses, farmed buffalo and other livestock in Minnesota; cattle in
Saskatchewan, Canada; free-ranging bison in the Northwest Territories in
Canada; sheep, goats and cattle in Turkey; cattle in Peru; sheep in Russia;
and several cows in Wales, in the United Kingdom.
Several steps should be followed when anthrax occurs in an area:
- Wear long sleeves and gloves when handling carcasses or when working
with or vaccinating livestock to avoid contaminating any sores or scratches
on arms or hands. See your doctor if you develop an unusual-looking sore
on your hands, arms or other exposed skin. Although it is very rare to
contract skin anthrax, this infection requires treatment with antibiotics
prescribed by a physician.
- Practice good sanitation! Wash your hands after handling livestock
(even if you wear gloves.) Disinfect equipment used on the animals or
carcasses. Keep pets and children away from carcasses or bones of dead
animals. Move healthy animals away from a pasture where animals have died
from the disease.
- Properly dispose of animal carcasses by burning to prevent exposure to
other animals, such as predators or dogs.
- Vaccinate livestock if cases occur in the surrounding areas. Anthrax
vaccine is a "live" vaccine, so it must not be administered with
antibiotics. Vaccinated animals must be withheld from slaughter for two
months.
- Restrict the movement of livestock onto or from an affected premise
until animals can develop immunity through vaccination (about 10 days).
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