February 5, 2008

California's Fresno Country Dairy reports bovine TB cases

Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) has recently been detected at a dairy in Fresno County in California, where government officials have already tightened control. 

State and federal animal health officials are already working with the dairy farmer and his veterinarians to implement control strategies and to eradicate the disease. 

The TB case was discovered during a routine slaughter inspection when a cow with suspicious lesions was found.

This week, CDFA and USDA veterinarians said that based on completed tests on some herds that may have been exposed, TB is present in just one herd. The tracing of related animal movement will continue, as will TB testing.  

Officials clarified that bovine TB does not threaten the quality and safety of milk and meat products in California. Almost all milk sold in California is pasteurized, which destroys organisms that could be harmful to humans, including TB organisms.

The state's two raw milk dairies are regularly inspected for TB. All cattle processed for meat are inspected for signs of TB infection.

California has implemented TB eradication programmes since 1917.  The last known case of Bovine TB in the state was in 2003.

Veterinarians said that the best way for farmers and ranchers to prevent bovine TB is to require TB testing of new cattle before purchase, maintain permanent identification of animals, keep records of animal movements into and out of their herd and prevent contact of breeding cattle with cattle of unknown origin.