News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 26, 2002

Contact: Michael Schommer, Communications Director, 651-297-1629

Bill Hartmann, DVM, State Veterinarian, 651-296-2942 x27

State veterinarian urges northwestern Minnesota livestock producers

to consider anthrax vaccinations for their grazing cattle

ST. PAUL, Minn. – As northwestern Minnesota livestock producers attempt to recover from devastating floods in their area, State Veterinarian Bill Hartmann advises them to consider anthrax vaccinations for livestock that will be grazing later this summer on land that flooded.

Anthrax is a naturally occurring disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. All warm-blooded animals are susceptible to the disease, but cattle, horses, sheep and goats are most commonly affected. Since the bacteria form spores that can lie dormant in soil for years, outbreaks typically occur in areas where animals have previously died of anthrax. Heavy rains and floods can bring the spores to the surface, where they can be ingested by grazing animals. Livestock infected with anthrax die quickly.

Fortunately, the risk of humans developing anthrax from naturally occurring bacteria is extremely low. Minnesota has recorded no human cases of anthrax since 1953. However, anthrax in livestock is an ongoing problem in northwestern Minnesota. During the summer of 2001, the state confirmed anthrax cases on 21 different farms in northwestern counties. Nearly 100 cattle, two horses and two free-ranging whitetail deer died from the disease. Kittson, Roseau, Marshall and Polk were among the affected counties.

Given this history of anthrax among livestock in northwestern Minnesota, Hartmann believes it is prudent for livestock producers to vaccinate grazing animals.

“As producers turn their animals out to pasture, they should keep in mind the risk of anthrax,” Hartmann said. “If they’re going to graze on land that flooded, they should vaccinate their animals to prevent anthrax.”

In previous years, farmers had to hire veterinarians to administer anthrax vaccinations. However, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health recently modified its rules to allow individual farmers to vaccinate their own livestock after getting a prescription from a veterinarian. Vaccinations generally cost less than $2 per animal.

“Many producers in northwestern Minnesota already vaccinated their animals earlier this year, but those who haven’t should consider it – especially if they are going to be grazing cattle on land that flooded,” Hartmann said. “The way I look at it, $2 is cheap insurance for an animal that is worth more than a thousand dollars.”

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