More anthrax cases have been confirmed in Manitoba’s Interlake region.
Cases have been confirmed on 15 different premises in the municipalities of Armstrong and Rockwood, said Sandra Stephens of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The disease has been found in horses, cattle and goats.
No further cases have been found in Saskatchewan or Alberta but there are reports of 18 bison in Wood Buffalo National Park in the Northwest Territories found dead from what park officials believe was anthrax.
“They tend to see it every year in Wood Buffalo,” said Stephens.
Vaccines are available for domestic livestock and after the large outbreaks in Saskatchewan last year, a good inventory has been made available.
“The distribution of vaccine ensured they had good supplies of vaccine on hand,” said Stephens. The live vaccine has a three year shelf life with most labelled usable until 2009.
Last year, $408,950 was paid in compensation to livestock owners in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario. Saskatchewan received the most compensation at $334,400 for 700 cases found in cattle, horses, goats, pigs, sheep, deer and elk.
