JANUARY 10, 2025|
Photo – Anthrax spores – Bigfoot99 file photo
Carbon County officials are unhappy with how last year’s anthrax discovery was handled.
In late August of 2024, Wyoming Game and Fish representatives, with confirmation from the state laboratory at the University of Wyoming, discovered the presence of anthrax in dead cattle on an undisclosed number of properties in the Elk Mountain area.
During the January 7th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Public Health Officer Dr. Duane Abels explained that state health authorities are continuing to discuss last summer’s anthrax outbreak. Dr. Abels said the meetings taught him that he must communicate with local town leaders more effectively.
Dr. Abels added that state officials concluded that the Elk Mountain anthrax discovery highlighted the need for better communication across the board.
On September 4th, representatives from the state met with ranchers and other concerned citizens to discuss the anthrax discovery. Commissioner John Johnson told Dr. Ables that he attended that meeting and, while there is always room for improvement, the commissioner said he was satisfied with the state’s response.
However, many were upset by the apparent lack of communication between the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory and local ranchers. The board agreed that the state, not the county, failed to keep residents informed about the anthrax outbreak. In fact, Commissioner John Espy said a representative from the state veterinary lab admitted as much.
Dr. Abels agreed, saying that important information was withheld from the public in an attempt to avoid a mass panic.
After the anthrax was discovered, the Carbon County Office of Emergency Management was brought on board.
Emergency Management Coordinator Lenny Layman said his department should be the first call during any situation. Layman said he, and the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, should be responsible for handling communications between agencies.
Layman explained that Emergency Management should be involved with every situation, even those requiring secrecy. The emergency manager emphasized that he alone should be responsible for coordinating all communications between experts, agencies, and the public.
Commissioner John Johnson asked Layman if he should be contacted during every livestock incident, including common outbreaks of brucellosis, a bacterial infection known to cause infertility in cattle. Layman said yes, he should be aware of every situation occurring in Carbon County at any time.
Layman explained that his job is to facilitate communications between experts and agencies to help manage a potential crisis. The emergency manager said his job becomes more difficult if he is brought on after an emergency has already occurred.
Commission Chairman Travis Moore said in his opinion, the state did a poor job of updating the public about the Elk Mountain anthrax outbreak. Chairman Moore said a unified message, delivered through the county’s Office of Emergency Management, could have been more effective at keeping residents informed.
Emergency Manager Layman said he hopes the Elk Mountain anthrax outbreak has shown state and county officials that Emergency Management should be the first call in any situation.
House District 47 Representative Bob Davis was also dissatisfied by how the anthrax discovery was handled. Representative Davis has sponsored House Bill 90, which requires the Wyoming Livestock Board to develop protocols for how to handle “non-negative anthrax tests.” The bill was introduced in the Wyoming Legislature on January 2nd. The session begins next week on Tuesday.
