Anthrax reported in South Dakota beef herd
According to South Dakota State Veterinarian, Dr. Beth Thompson, anthrax has been confirmed in a beef herd located in Meade County. This is the first confirmed case of anthrax in 2024.
Dr. Thompson notes that herd vaccination, a quick response, and veterinary oversight limited the number of affected cattle to one calf in a herd of approximately 60 pairs. The adult cattle in the herd have been vaccinated within the past year.
The Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at SDSU confirmed the disease from samples submitted by the herd veterinarian. The Animal Industry Board has quarantined the affected herd, notified the neighboring herd owners, and will quarantine any additional herds impacted.
“Veterinary oversight is important when faced with disease concerns, and the Animal Industry Board will continue to work with ranchers and private veterinarians to quickly respond to anthrax,” said Dr. Thompson. “The Anthrax vaccine has also been proven to be effective and allows ranchers to take steps to protect their herd.”
Anthrax is a very serious disease of livestock because it can potentially cause the rapid loss of a large number of animals in a very short time. Affected animals are often found dead with no illness detected.
When conditions become favorable, the spores germinate into colonies of bacteria. An example would be a grazing cow ingests spores that in the cow, germinate, grow spread and eventually kill the animal. Anthrax is caused by the bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. This spore forming bacteria can survive in the environment for decades because of its ability to resist heat, cold, drying, etc. This is usually the infectious stage of anthrax.
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There are no reports of person-to-person transmission of anthrax. People get anthrax by handling contaminated animal or animal products, consuming undercooked meat of infected animals and more recently, intentional release of spores.
There are three types of human anthrax with differing degrees of seriousness: cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalation.