041134 Anthrax Kills 15 Cattle in North Dakota

Bismarck, ND - Fifteen beef cattle died from anthrax on a farm in Dunn County last month and had to be burned and buried as a precautionary measure.

Although the farm where the cattle had the disease is under quarantine, State Veterinarian Susan Keller said the public should not be concerned about it infecting humans or spreading to other cattle.

"This is not a highly contagious disease," Keller said. Keller chose not to publicize the information last month to avoid an unnecessary scare.

"If it is not a health threat or a public concern, by publishing it, it gives the perception that it is," Keller said.

The farmer, who lives near Taylor, learned about the anthrax infection after calling a veterinarian when his cattle began to die, Keller said. The veterinarian, who is accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture, informed the State Board of Animal Health and the USDA about the infection.

A North Dakota State University diagnostic lab confirmed the cattle had anthrax on Oct. 19, Keller said. Keller said the remaining cattle in the herd were treated with antibiotics and are expected to be fine. She said she did not know how many cattle were part of the herd.

Documented cases of anthrax in cattle are not uncommon. Keller said there are usually at least one or more cases reported each year in North Dakota, but most of the time the cases involve the death of only one or two head. Cattle can die within seven to 14 days after exposure, often without showing symptoms.

Cattle get anthrax by eating spores in the dirt. Some of the spores are thought to be residual spores from the great cattle drives of more than 100 years ago. The spores don't grow inside the host cow unless they're exposed to oxygen.

Anthrax kills its cattle host and can spread to humans, though in extremely rare cases. The most deadly form of anthrax is pulmonary anthrax, which could come from inhaling the spores in powder form. Charlie Stoltenow, veterinarian for North Dakota State University extension service, said there's no documented case of human pulmonary anthrax directly linked to infected cattle.

Regionally, there's only one known case of humans consuming meat from an anthrax-diseased cow. The Minnesota family escaped potentially fatal digestive anthrax because the meat was thoroughly cooked, Stoltenow said.

The last major outbreak of anthrax was in 2000, when 180 cases were reported in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba.

Stoltenow said any risk to humans from cattle anthrax is extremely low. He said veterinarians are trained in identification of the disease and how to handle it when it's found.

Although Keller released the details of the infection, she said other agencies might not have to under Homeland Security laws. Anthrax is now classified among other biological diseases like smallpox and Ebola that can be used as weapons.

"This is new territory for everybody," said Dave Berryhill, who heads up bio- safety security at North Dakota State University and is the responsible officer under Homeland Security regulations.

Berryhill said state officials can talk only in general terms about natural cases of anthrax, but not in specific detail. That's to prevent anyone with criminal intent from learning where the cattle remains might be, where they grazed and what lab did the diagnostic work. Stoltenow said in the past his office wouldn't have released much information but is now prohibited from releasing any.

"It's exempt from disclosure under Homeland Defense," he said.

Keller said she informed both the State Health Department and the North Dakota Division of Emergency Management of the anthrax infection as part of normal procedure.

Rick Robinson, a support specialist with the North Dakota Division of Emergency Management, said the agency has monitored the outbreak and is communicating with other state agencies, but it will not notify federal officials or activate state resources because the infection does not appear to be intentional.

Kirby Kruger, an epidemiologist with the State Health Department, said the health department has little involvement in the case because there is no recommendation to treat the family living on the farm.

"These types of things very rarely result in human disease," Kruger said.

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