The deadly anthrax bacterium is now the cause of about 250 animal deaths in Saskatchewan and more than 50 in Manitoba.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed July 24 that the disease has occurred far from the original outbreak in northeastern Saskatchewan after three dead cattle near Chaplin in the southwest tested positive.
As well, six farms are under quarantine in the southeastern Manitoba rural municipalities of Stuartburn and Franklin after 53 cattle and horses died from anthrax there.
Sandra Stephens, CFIA spokesperson, said producers must be vigilant and have unexpected livestock deaths checked by veterinarians. They should also vaccinate their herds if they live close to outbreak areas or if they are concerned.
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“People should talk to their practitioners about what’s going on in (their) area,” she said. “The wild card in this whole situation is we don’t know where it’s potentially buried out there.”
Anthrax is a highly fatal disease caused by a spore-forming bacterium that can linger in the ground for decades. Grazing animals usually contract it when they ingest the spores from a contaminated environment.
The disease has now shown up in 15 Saskatchewan RMs: Kinistino, Willow Creek, Spalding, St. Peter, Ponass Lake, Humboldt, Pleasantdale, Nipawin, Torch River, Flett’s Springs, St. Brieux, Prince Albert, Chaplin, Moose Range and Barrier Valley.
As of July 24, there were 59 quarantined premises, 58 positive premises and 248 dead cattle, horses, swine, bison, white-tailed deer, sheep and goats.
Stephens said as many as eight farms could come off quarantine this week. The CFIA will continue to report the total number of positive farms.
The cases in Chaplin and Manitoba are likely due to hot dry weather that has caused water holes to dry up and allowed cattle to graze areas that they previously couldn’t access, she said.
Wayne Lees, Manitoba’s chief veterinary officer, said he wouldn’t be surprised if more cases arose.
“Producers should vaccinate their herds if they’re in those areas of high risk,” he said.
There were 67 confirmed cases of anthrax in Manitoba between 2000 and 2005, including last year’s south central outbreak that killed 26 cattle and 10 horses.
Stephens said the last cases in southwestern Saskatchewan appear to have been in the Maple Creek region in the early 1980s.
She said because producers have been vaccinating cattle, fewer reports should come out of the northeast.
The Canadian distributor of the vaccine worked out its supply problems to private veterinarians, she said, and there should be adequate vaccine available. A 70,000-dose shipment arrived last week, allowing veterinarians to fill backorders, and more doses were ordered.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan Environment is asking people to report wildlife deaths that might be caused by anthrax.
Ron Erickson, director of northern field services, said July 21 the department had investigated about 13 cases. All carcasses were either burned or sprayed with formalin.
None of them proved positive for anthrax but he said that’s because the carcasses had deteriorated to the point where it was impossible to get a good sample. The heat wave is causing rapid deterioration.
“To get there soon enough to get a good sample you’d have to be there as soon as the animal might die,” he said.
Erickson said the department wouldn’t take samples from animals that have obviously been hit by cars. It is also testing wildlife only in the areas where domestic livestock have contracted the disease. People can report suspicious wildlife deaths to the toll free provincial inquiry line at 800-567-4224.
