July 7, 2006

20 hog farms in Canada quarantined over anthrax outbreak

20 hog farms in Canada's province of Manitoba are now under quarantine after two farms have had animals tested positive for anthrax and more than 50 animals died of suspicious causes in the area.

A total of 2,000 animals have been vaccinated, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said Wednesday (Jul 5).

News of the case broke last week when a farm was quarantined after two bulls died of anthrax poisoning.

Manitoba has had a few cases over the last few years and with the procedures that CFIA uses, their quarantines, the disease has had no impact on the industry said Dennis Fuglerud, president of the association, a provincial affiliate of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association.

However, producers whose herds have been quarantined and cannot be moved during the investigation may be affected, he added.

Although the disease can spread quickly among animals and cause a swift death, the human health risk of contracting anthrax is slim, said Dr. Mohammad Khan, medical health officer for the Kelsey Trail Health Region.

No human cases have been reported so far.

Anthrax is caused by spore-forming bacteria that can spread among animals through contaminated feed, soil or pasture during grazing.

Anthrax is not uncommon in Canada, the CFIA said. The last case occurred in 2004 on a farm.