New anthrax incidents in cattle have almost disappeared, but a bison herd near Wynyard, Sask., fell prey to the bacteria last week.
Neither Manitoba nor Alberta had new cases of the disease last week.
On a bison farm near Wynyard, 30 head died from anthrax in a herd that is estimated to be several hundred.
“Our staff aided that producer in vaccinating his remaining animals and all producers within 10 kilometres of that farm are being asked to make sure their livestock are vaccinated against the disease,” said Greg Douglas of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Read Also
Research looks to control flea beetles with RNAi
A Vancouver agri-tech company wants to give canola growers another weapon in the never-ending battle against flea beetles.
The agency is finding most of the samples being submitted for testing are now negative for the disease.
“That tells us that vaccination and awareness programs are working,” said Douglas.
“There was a time not long ago when those tests were mainly positive,” he said.
Authorities warn that producers shouldn’t take the disease for granted. Farmers should vaccinate their animals before moving them into pastures that might be at risk of harbouring the anthrax spores.
More than 550,000 doses of the vaccine have been distributed so far on the Prairies.
