August 3, 2007

USDA approves more funds against bovine TB

The US Department of Agriculture has approved an additional US$35 million toward emergency funding for the bovine tuberculosis eradication program, according to agriculture undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Bruce Knight. The programme has already US$2 million in emergency funding already available for tuberculosis control and eradication.

In the last five years, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has identified 35 TB-affected herds. Recently, a herd at an isolated dairy farm in Curry County, New Mexico tested positive for TB in June, and the emergency funding will allow for depopulation and indemnification of the infected herd. The funding also will help support overall TB eradication efforts, which include surveillance, control and epidemiologic investigations.

Currently all states are designated accredited-free for TB, except Minnesota and portions of Michigan and New Mexico.