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NDA Announces Results of First Week of TB Testing

LINCOLN - Nebraska Director of Agriculture (NDA) Greg Ibach today announced the results of the first week of testing in the ongoing bovine tuberculosis (TB) case. All TB test results were negative on the approximately 1,700 head of cattle tested during the week of June 15-21, he said. An additional 3,300 head of cattle were tested last week, with the results pending, for a total of approximately 5,000 animals tested.

"We appreciate the ongoing cooperation NDA has received from producers with quarantined herds, as well as the assistance of U.S. Department of Agriculture personnel," Ibach said. "Through a team effort, we have made huge strides toward addressing this disease situation.

"That said, we still have a great deal of work to do, so I ask for continued patience, communication and cooperation."

Ibach also updated the number of quarantined herds and the counties in which those herds are located. Staff continues the epidemiological investigation, which currently is focused on researching sales records of the TB-infected herd from the past two years, as well as testing quarantined herds. As of yesterday, 43 herds are quarantined in 14 Nebraska counties. The counties include Rock, Holt, Loup, Boyd, Brown, Cedar, Colfax, Gage, Keya Paha, Pierce, Nance, Cherry, Blaine, and Buffalo.

NDA announced on June 1, 2009, that a cow from a Rock County beef herd had tested positive for bovine TB. The herd remains under quarantine. A second cow from that herd later also tested positive for the disease. The epidemiological investigation involves locating any cattle that may have been pastured next to the infected herd during the past two years, as well as tracing cattle movement into and out of the herd during that time frame.

"It's important to remember that at this time, only one herd has had animals test positive for TB," said Ibach.

Starting this week, NDA will update test result information, counties with herd quarantines and other relevant TB information on its web site at www.agr.ne.gov, under the bovine TB button on the right side of the home page. Information will be updated on Mondays.

Nebraska Bovine TB Statistics

 


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