Anthrax attributed to cattle death in Logan County
December 26, 2012
One dead cow in Logan County has been confirmed by the The Colorado Department of Agriculture to have been infected with Anthrax. Another 50 dead cattle are suspected to have been exposed.
One location has tested positive and adjacent ranchers are being notified. No cattle left the location prior to the quarantine, and no cattle entered the food chain.
"The risk is minimal outside the affected ranch," state veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr said in a news release. "We believe, at this point, that anthrax is confined to that specific premises. Colorado has not had an anthrax case in 31 years but anthrax outbreaks are not uncommon in the Western United States. We are dedicated to providing the necessary response to ensure that the investigation works quickly to limit the spread of this disease."
The locations have been quarantined, and people, cattle and equipment that may have come into contact with anthrax are being monitored.
Anthrax can cause the rapid loss of a large number of animals in a very short time. Often, animals are found dead with no illness detected, according to the news release.
Anthrax can develop naturally in soil; the spores can become active in association with periods of marked climatic or ecologic change such as heavy rainfall, flooding or drought, which can then expose the anthrax spores to grazing livestock. Outbreaks of anthrax are commonly associated with neutral or alkaline soils, according to the release.