Brucellosis found in second cow in Montana

Disease can also be found in pigs, dogs, goats, and sheep

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

For the second time since the beginning of December and the fifth time in eight years, officials involved with livestock in the state of Montana announced a confirmed case of brucellosis.

The disease can cause the infected animal to abort their pregnancy and can affect humans as well. Should someone come into contact with an infected animal or products from that animal, it could result in fevers, body pain, and even miscarriages and birth defects if a pregnant woman comes into contact with the virus.

Officials discovered the infected cow after is returned from grazing in Montana’s Designated Surveillance Area (DSA). The rest of the herd is under quarantine and will be tested.

State veterinarian Dr. Marty Zaluski isn’t too worried about the disease spreading.

“Based on the cow’s test history – a negative test last year after exiting the DSA, but a positive this year – it’s likely that the exposure occurred within the DSA in 2014 and that there is minimal risk to cattle producers in Carbon County,” said Zaluski. “That’s an infection rate of less than one-tenth of one percent.”

Normally, two positive brucellosis in such a small period would result in the state losing their “disease-free” status from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Federal officials have since eased up on their regulations and the state will not lose the disease-free designation.
 

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