A new case of cattle anthrax has been confirmed in southwest North Dakota’s Grant County, bringing the number of cases in the state to 25 this year, according to state agriculture officials. This marks the first case reported in the state since August. The affected areas include Grant County, neighboring Hettinger and Adams counties, where about 170 cattle deaths have been recorded.
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring attributed the late-year case to unusually mild weather, allowing cattle to remain on pastureland where anthrax thrives. The South Dakota outbreak this year is the worst since 2005, with 109 anthrax cases leading to more than 500 confirmed animal deaths.
Anthrax is caused by bacterial spores that can lie dormant in the ground for decades and become active under ideal conditions, such as drought. While the disease is not contagious, it poses a threat to livestock. However, the vaccine for livestock is cheap and easily administered. North Dakota State Veterinarian Dr. Ethan Andress mentioned that many producers in the affected area had worked with veterinarians to administer vaccinations earlier this year.
In terms of human health, naturally occurring anthrax poses little danger. In the U.S., infection typically arises from handling carcasses or fluids from affected livestock without protective clothing. Breathing in spores is the most dangerous, and can be nearly always fatal if left untreated. However, this is extremely rare, even for people who work with livestock, according to the CDC.
Historically, most people associate anthrax with the weaponized version used in the 2001 attacks, when letters containing anthrax spores sent through the mail resulted in five deaths and 17 others falling ill. It is important for livestock owners and those working with animals to maintain awareness of anthrax and take necessary precautions to protect both livestock and human health.
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