- An outbreak of anthrax north of Winnipeg has killed more than 50 farm animals since mid-July, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Tuesday.
Sixteen Manitoba farms have tested positive for anthrax in the last few weeks. The fatal virus has killed 48 cattle, one horse and two goats, said Dr. Sandra Stephens, a disease control specialist.
Unlike in recent years, Stephens said this year's cases have been farther north and concentrated in the Interlake region north of Winnipeg - an area that hasn't been affected in more than three decades. Most of Manitoba's past outbreaks have been just outside Winnipeg or in southeastern Manitoba.
So far, the Rural Municipality of Rockwood - 45 kilometres north of Winnipeg, and Armstrong, 100 kilometres north of the city - have had the majority of cases. One case of anthrax was reported in May in Stuartburn, southeast of the capital.
"Certainly we see that the spores can survive for decades -some estimated at 200 years or more," Stephens said. "It could've been last year, or 20 to 30 years ago, that an animal died and spread the spores."
Anthrax is a fatal virus spread by spores that live in soil. Although they can lie dormant for years, the spores thrive after heavy rain or flooding, followed by drought and hot temperatures.
Stephens said rain brings the anthrax spores to the surface and, as the soil dries, they're left to be ingested by grazing farm animals.
Infected animals can die within a few hours as the bacteria multiply in the bloodstream, release toxins and cause internal bleeding.
Human cases of anthrax are rare, but people can get it by eating meat from infected animals, by contracting the spores through open cuts or wounds, or by inhaling airborne spores.
Stephens said any farm that tests positive for anthrax is quarantined and all surviving animals are vaccinated.
Any corpses from infected animals are either incinerated or buried deep in the soil.
Farmers in the surrounding areas are busy vaccinating their animals to prevent an outbreak.
"People are rounding up the animals off the pasture and vaccinating them," she said.
Many cattle producers are concerned, since the virus seems to be spreading into areas that have never had a problem with the spores, said Martin Unrau, president of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association.
Vaccinating herds is time-consuming and stressful, and producers need to be vigilant in making certain that none of their animals is sick, he added.
"It's a lot of work, plus the added stress of cleaning up dead animals," Unrau said.
Last year, 17 farms in Manitoba were hit with anthrax and 118 animals died.
Four cattle have been killed by anthrax this year on farms in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Stephens said more cases are possible if hot, dry temperatures persist.
Most cases of anthrax occur in late August and September.
© CanWest News Service 2007
Sixteen Manitoba farms have tested positive for anthrax in the last few weeks. The fatal virus has killed 48 cattle, one horse and two goats, said Dr. Sandra Stephens, a disease control specialist.
Unlike in recent years, Stephens said this year's cases have been farther north and concentrated in the Interlake region north of Winnipeg - an area that hasn't been affected in more than three decades. Most of Manitoba's past outbreaks have been just outside Winnipeg or in southeastern Manitoba.
So far, the Rural Municipality of Rockwood - 45 kilometres north of Winnipeg, and Armstrong, 100 kilometres north of the city - have had the majority of cases. One case of anthrax was reported in May in Stuartburn, southeast of the capital.
"Certainly we see that the spores can survive for decades -some estimated at 200 years or more," Stephens said. "It could've been last year, or 20 to 30 years ago, that an animal died and spread the spores."
Anthrax is a fatal virus spread by spores that live in soil. Although they can lie dormant for years, the spores thrive after heavy rain or flooding, followed by drought and hot temperatures.
Stephens said rain brings the anthrax spores to the surface and, as the soil dries, they're left to be ingested by grazing farm animals.
Infected animals can die within a few hours as the bacteria multiply in the bloodstream, release toxins and cause internal bleeding.
Human cases of anthrax are rare, but people can get it by eating meat from infected animals, by contracting the spores through open cuts or wounds, or by inhaling airborne spores.
Stephens said any farm that tests positive for anthrax is quarantined and all surviving animals are vaccinated.
Any corpses from infected animals are either incinerated or buried deep in the soil.
Farmers in the surrounding areas are busy vaccinating their animals to prevent an outbreak.
"People are rounding up the animals off the pasture and vaccinating them," she said.
Many cattle producers are concerned, since the virus seems to be spreading into areas that have never had a problem with the spores, said Martin Unrau, president of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association.
Vaccinating herds is time-consuming and stressful, and producers need to be vigilant in making certain that none of their animals is sick, he added.
"It's a lot of work, plus the added stress of cleaning up dead animals," Unrau said.
Last year, 17 farms in Manitoba were hit with anthrax and 118 animals died.
Four cattle have been killed by anthrax this year on farms in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Stephens said more cases are possible if hot, dry temperatures persist.
Most cases of anthrax occur in late August and September.
© CanWest News Service 2007