Viral disease in yellowstone county cattle – 08/26/2005

  • November 11, 2013 at 10:26 pm #944
    Mike
    Keymaster

    — In pac-pc@yahoogroups.com, “Bridget” <bcolemanconroy8>
    wrote:
    Hi
    This as an isolated incident wouldn’t be alarming, but what we have
    been seeing is an enourmous jump in viral infections that have been
    showing up globally and with devistating results.
    These pathogens (or spirochetes) live in mosquitos, fleas, mites,
    semen, urine and spread without having a cell wall.
    There is plenty of information out there, just look.
    Choose your battle, that is up to you, but think carefully while you
    you are still able.
    Wishing you all the best,
    Bridget
    http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
    AID=/20050826/NEWS01/508260313/1002

    Viral disease confirmed in Yellowstone County cattle
    By SARAH COOKE
    Associated Press Writer
    HELENA — Cattle in Yellowstone County have tested positive for
    vesicular stomatitis, a viral disease that spreads easily and has
    already infected nearly two dozen horses in the county, Montana’s
    state veterinarian said Thursday.

    The latest case involves four cows in Laurel, Tom Linfield said.
    That premises and 16 others in the Billings-Laurel area are under
    quarantine, which restricts the movement of infected animals until
    three weeks after the blister-like lesions caused by the disease
    have healed, he said.

    Although rarely fatal, vesicular stomatitis is a concern for
    livestock officials because it’s contagious and the outward signs —
    the lesions for example — are essentially identical to foot-and-
    mouth disease, Linfield said. Lab tests are needed to distinguish
    between the two.

    Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming also have
    confirmed cases of VS this year, according to the federal Animal and
    Plant Health Inspection Service.
    An investigation into the cause of Montana’s outbreak is continuing,
    Linfield said.

    The spate of VS remains isolated enough within the state that it has
    not caused widespread alarm among Montana ranchers.
    Richard Harmon owns a cattle and calf operation in the Sweet Grass
    Hills northeast of Shelby. He believes his cattle are relatively
    safe since they’re far from the outbreak.
    “We look at Yellowstone County as 300 miles away,” he
    said. “(Disease outbreaks) are always a concern, but not a big one.”

    Plus, he believes cooler weather will help stymie the virus’ spread.
    The recent VS cases prompted North Dakota this week to require a
    health certificate for cattle, sheep, bison and horses transferred
    from a state affected by the disease to a North Dakota auction
    market. Export of Montana horses and other susceptible livestock
    into Canada is prohibited, Linfield said.

    Montana and some other states also are requiring that animals from
    states affected by VS have certificates of veterinary inspection
    within 72 hours of import and veterinary inspections within a day if
    the animals came from inside 10 miles of an infected farm or ranch,
    the state Livestock Department said.

    Linfield asked cattle owners moving livestock out of Montana to
    contact the veterinarian’s office in their destination state well in
    advance to find out what, if any, regulations are in place regarding
    VS-affected states.

    “It would also be beneficial to re-contact the destination state
    prior to movement of the animals to make sure the requirements have
    not changed,” he said.

    The Bureau of Land Management closed its 380-acre Sundance Lodge
    recreation area south of Laurel to horses and other livestock this
    week because of the outbreak. The recreation area near the
    confluence of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone and the Yellowstone
    River is popular for wildlife watching, environmental education,
    photography, hiking, biking and horseback riding.

    The virus is believed to spread to livestock through insects, such
    as the sand fly and the black fly. Once introduced, officials
    believe VS moves from animal to animal by exposure to saliva or
    fluid from ruptured lesions.

    The first case of the disease was reported earlier this month in a
    horse in the Laurel area. It was Montana’s first since 1982.
    Tribune Staff Writer Keila Szpaller contributed to this report.
    Originally published August 26, 2005
    — End forwarded message —

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