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Officials Probe Case of Bovine Tuberculosis

PORKER

Well-known member
State Agriculture Officials Probe Case of Bovine Tuberculosis
Reporter: AP
Email: [email protected]


State and federal agriculture officials are looking into a case of bovine tuberculosis from Douglas County.

But the Colorado Department of Agriculture insists that the affected bull was isolated from the processing line at a plant in San Angelo, Texas -- and that no part of the animal got into the food chain.

The illness was revealed through lesions in the bulls' lungs during a routine carcass inspection.

About 660 head of cattle have been quarantined to prevent possible spread of the bovine T-B.

State officials say Colorado will not lose its status as a "T-B Accredited Free State" unless a second infected animal is found somewhere else.

The C-D-A says it's rare for the illness to be spread to humans.

Officials, though, are working with the state Department of Public Health to ensure safety.
 

PORKER

Well-known member
Cattle quarantined after disease discovered

posted by: Dan Boniface , Web Producer
written by: Thanh Truong , 9NEWS Reporter created: 2/5/2007 1:06:05 PM
Last updated: 2/5/2007 6:29:41 PM



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Bovine tuberculosis has been found in Colorado for the first time since 1974. 9NEWS at 6 p.m. 2/05/07




DOUGLAS COUNTY - For the first time since 1974, a reported case of bovine tuberculosis has been found in Colorado.


Inspectors say a bull was sold from a Colorado owner in Douglas County to a meat packing facility in San Angelo, Texas.

Colorado’s assistant state veterinarian, Keith Roehr, says evidence of the disease was discovered in the bull’s lungs during routine inspection of the carcass. Roehr says the bull’s meat was never moved beyond the facility.

"The food supply is safe, the regular measures we have in place for meat inspection prevent any meat coming into the food chain that's infected,” said Roehr.

The state has quarantined approximately 660 cattle from what Roehr calls “the herd of origin.” Roehr says any cow that had prolonged exposure to the bull, nose to nose specifically, may be infected.

"The rest of the herd will be individually tested, if there were any animals that were found to be positive, they would be eliminated too and we would do further testing of that herd," Roehr said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, bovine tuberculosis can be passed on through the air and can attack any part of the body. The lungs are the usual targets.

If untreated, the disease can be deadly.

Testing is of the cattle in Douglas County is underway. The state will not release the location of the ranch. Some of the first test results are expected to be in by Thursday.
 
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