September 6, 2024 |
Photo – Anthrax spores magnified – Courtesy News Medical
Concerns ran high this week among the ranching community in the Elk Mountain area as cattle herds were hit with a rare outbreak of naturally occurring anthrax.
In late August, state game officials, with confirmation from the state laboratory at the University of Wyoming, discovered the presence of anthrax in dead cattle on an undisclosed number of in the Elk Mountain area.
Representatives from the state met with ranchers and other concerned citizens on Wednesday night to discuss the outbreak.
Wyoming State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Sam Allen explained that anthrax is a naturally occurring bacterial spore which can lie dormant in contaminated soil for decades. Dr. Allen said alternating periods of drought and heavy rain can cause the spores to become active.
Dr. Allen said grazing animals, such as deer and elk, may inhale anthrax spores while feeding on grass growing in contaminated soil.
The state wildlife veterinarian also said large soil disturbances, such as wallowing, may release the spores into the air. Animals breathe in the anthrax spores and become ill.
Dr. Allen said natural anthrax outbreaks are common in other parts of the United States. However, a confirmed anthrax death hasn’t occurred in Wyoming for nearly 70 years.
Dr. Allen explained the symptoms of anthrax poisoning, including fever and elevated respiratory rate. The state wildlife veterinarian said the most common symptom of the bacterial infection is sudden death.
Cases of human anthrax infection are very rare. Dr. Allen said most people contract anthrax poisoning by eating undercooked meat or coming in contact with the blood of an infected animal.
In humans, signs of anthrax exposure can take up to 60 days to manifest themselves.
After detecting anthrax in livestock, Wyoming State Veterinarian Dr. Hallie Hasel advised ranchers to relocate their animals away from the contaminated pasture, if possible. Once the livestock are in an uninfected area, Dr. Hallie recommended administering an anthrax vaccine annually.
A vaccine is available for humans with confirmed anthrax exposure. State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Emily Curren said a pre-exposure vaccine exists but is rarely used.
Roughly 50 domesticated cattle and at least one wild moose have died in Elk Mountain from anthrax exposure. State representatives refused to disclose the number and identity of the effected ranches. Wyoming State Veterinarian Dr. Hasel said the ranches where the sick animals were found will be placed under a 30-day quarantine.
The impacted ranchers are forbidden from selling their livestock until the quarantine is lifted.
The State Veterinary Laboratory representatives stressed that anthrax occurs naturally, but they do not know when and where it will appear. The state representatives advised anyone who comes in contact with a diseased animal to wear the proper personal protective equipment, such as gloves and N95 masks, and to disinfect their clothing with a small amount of bleach.
While the state officials at this week’s meeting in Elk Mountain could not guarantee that all signs of anthrax will disappear this winter, they said the spores tend to become dormant in cooler temperatures.
