Anthrax killed 41 bison in a northern Alberta herd last week, said officials with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
John Doll of Bluesky, Alta., who owns the bison, did not want to talk about the deaths in the herd.
“It’s quite stressful,” said Doll.
So far this spring and summer, 83 bison and cattle have died from anthrax in four locations across Alberta. Two cattle died in Cypress County, two in the Clearwater County, 38 bison on two farms in the Municipal District of Bonnyville and now 41 bison in the Municipal District of Fairview.
Anthrax is a sudden, highly fatal disease, caused by spore-forming bacteria. The disease occurs sporadically and can affect all mammals, including humans.
Animals generally acquire the disease from a contaminated environment.
In Canada, all cases of anthrax must be reported to the CFIA.
Because of the dramatic outbreak of anthrax in Saskatchewan and Manitoba last year, the federal government now compensates producers for animals killed by anthrax. For bison, the maximum compensation amount is $500 per animal.
