Fw: Anthrax Information

["Eddie Spurgeon" <espurgeon@glade.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: carla everett <ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us>
To: <Colleagues>
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 8:01 PM
Subject: Anthrax Information


> In response to the large number of callers requesting information about
> Anthrax, a new, free brochure is being offered by the Texas Animal Health
> Commission..  Below is the text from the flyer.  If you'd like to have
> printed copies, please reply to this e-mail with your postal mailing
> address and the number of brochures you need.
>
> Carla Everett
> Information Officer
> Texas Animal Health Commission
> 1-800-550-8242, ext. 710
>
>
>
> What is Anthrax...and what causes it?
>
> Anthrax is a naturally occuring disease with worldwide distribution.  It
is
> caused by Bacillus anthracis, a spore-forming bacteria that can remain
> alive, but dormant in the soil for many years.  The bacteria can "bloom"
> and contaminate surface soil and grass after periods of wet, cool weather,
> followed by several weeks of hot, dry conditions.
>
> Grazing animals--such as cattle, sheep, goats, exotic and domestic deer,
> and horses--ingest anthrax bacteria when they consume contaminated grass.
> By the time an animal displays signs of disease, including staggering,
> trembling, convulsions, or bleeding from body openings, death usually
> follows.
>
> Domestic and wild swine are fairly resistant to anthrax and although they
> may become ill, some of these animals recover fully.
>
> Anthrax outbreaks depend on two factors working together:  the presence of
> the spores in the soil...and suitable weather conditions.   Outbreaks
> usually end when cool weather arrives and the bacteria becomes dormant.
>
> An outbreak may  occur one year, but not the next. Death loss may occur in
> one pasture, while animals nearby remain healthy.
>
> Anthrax can occur anywhere, but in Texas, cases most often are confined to
> a triangular area bounded by the towns of Uvalde, Ozona and Eagle Pass.
> This area, designated below, includes portions of Crockett, Val Verde,
> Sutton, Edwards, Kinney and Maverick Counties.  In these counties, many
> livestock producers routinely vaccinate livestock against the disease.
>
> When anthrax outbreak begins,veterinarians will have the initial cases
> confirmed through laboratory tests conducted at the Texas Veterinary
> Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in College Station.  Subsequent cases in an
> outbreak are to be expected and may be diagnosed clinically, based on
> disease signs and sudden death loss.
>
> Anthrax is a reportable disease, and the Texas Animal Health Commission
> (TAHC) is to be notified of confirmed and suspected cases.  Reports can be
> made to TAHC area offices, or to the TAHC headquarters at 1-800-550-8242,
> where a veterinarian is on call 24 hours a day.
>
>
> The Situation: Summer 2001
>
> By mid-July 2001, seven ranches in Val Verde, Uvalde and Edwards had
> laboratory confirmed cases of anthrax in deer and livestock. Private
> veterinary practitioners and ranchers in these counties and Real, Kinney
> and western Bandera Counties also had reported losses due to the disease.
> A "significant" white-tailed deer death loss was reported along in
> southeast Edwards and
> southwest Real Counties.
>
> During an Outbreak...Protecting Animal Health
>
> An effective anthrax vaccine can be purchased through private veterinary
> practitioners,  feed stores or animal health
> product distributors.  The injection can be
> administered by private veterinary practitioners or ranchers and is
> recommended for:
> * livestock residing in or near an outbreak
> * animals that will be moved into the area,
>   such as horses transported to trail rides.
>
> When administering the vaccine, wear a long-sleeved shirt and use latex or
> work gloves to prevent skin contamination with this "live" vaccine.
> Consult your physician for treatment if you suffer a "needle stick,"
splash
> vaccine in cuts or scratches, or if you develop a sore after handling
> vaccine or livestock.
>
> During an outbreak, white-tailed deer often suffer the most from the
> disease,as they cannot be "rounded up" and handled like domestic or farmed
> exotic livestock.  Furthermore, the anthrax vaccine  has not been approved
> for use in deer.
>
>
> Carcass Disposal
>
> To prevent contaminating the ground with the anthrax spores or organisms,
> TAHC regulations require that property or livestock owners thoroughly burn
> carcasses of animals that may have died from anthrax.
>
> Wear long sleeves and protect your hands with gloves, and do not move or
> open bloated carcasses, as this could release bacteria into the air,
> causing further disease spread. Do not salvage hides, horns, antlers or
any
> other tissue from the carcasses.
>
> If the animal was housed in a barn, burn the animal's bedding, manure and
> the surrounding soil. To disinfect panels, trailers or equipment, use an
> ammonia-based disinfectant, lebeled as effective for anthrax. Follow label
> directions to prevent respiratory irritation!
>
> Pastures cannot be disinfected with chemicals.  Only burning ensures
> that anthrax bacteria has been killed.
>
> Due to environmental concerns, do not use heavy oils or tires to burn
> carcasses!
> Fuels permitted by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
> (TNRCC) include gasoline, diesel or wood.  Care should be taken to keep
> fires from "getting out of hand."
>
> In counties under a burn ban, burning must be coordinated with local fire
> authorities.
>
> Vaccine healthy livestock and move the animals away from the carcasses, to
> clean pastures, if possible.
>
> Other Safety Precautions
>
> Wash your hands thoroughly after handling livestock. Ranchers can contract
> a skin form of anthrax that requires specific antibiotic treatment.  See
> your physician if you develop a sore or lesions after handling vaccine or
> livestock or burning carcasses.
>
> Keep dogs out of pastures and away from carcasses during an anthrax
> outbreak.  Although dogs are reportedly resistant to anthrax, they can
> develop infection from the bacteria and may require treatment.
>
> Do not swim in stock tanks or stagnant ponds in pastures where death
losses
> have occurred.  Streams are considered safer, as the moving water will
dilute
> organisms.  Report animal carcasses in streams or rivers to local sheriff
> or police departments.
>
> During an outbreak, do not consume wild hogs shot in an affected area.
> Swine may
> have fed on carcasses.  Although swine  are resistant to anthrax, they may
> temporarily harbor the bacteria.
>
> During cool weather, wild hogs will be free of the disease.  As always,
> the TAHC recommends hunters wear latex gloves when processing game, to
prevent
> potential exposure to bacteria, viruses or parasites.  Thoroughly cooked
meat
> is considered safe to eat.
>
> Do not collect antlers, skulls or horns from animals.  Anthrax can
> survive, even if bones are bleached.
>
>
>
>
>
>