An Alberta farm has been quarantined after a positive case of tuberculosis was detected in a cow shipped to the United States for slaughter.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is investigating and the index herd will be tested, said Rob McNabb of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. The case was detected in September and was reported on the CFIA website.
Bovine tuberculosis is a contagious and reportable disease in Canada. One case does not affect trade, but there could be repercussions if the disease is found to be more widespread.
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“Most of our experience is that these are isolated incidents of one offs and we will keep our fingers crossed that that is the case here,” said McNabb.
The last case was found in 2011 in British Columbia.
In a letter to Saskatchewan and Alberta beef and dairy producer groups, the CFIA said movement restrictions remain until testing is completed for all at-risk livestock herds associated with the infected premises.
Animals under movement controls are allowed to move directly to inspected slaughter facilities only under a CFIA permit.
Bovine tuberculosis is not a threat to public health, but those in contact with an infected animal are advised to contact their physician or local health authority.
