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Wyoming worried about brucellosis outbreak
PINEDALE, Wyo. (AP)--Other states are closely watching how Wyoming responds to the brucellosis outbreak in a cattle herd, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said.
Freudenthal and a delegation of state and federal officials met for more than four hours Dec. 15 with about 300 area ranchers and residents concerned about the outbreak.
"First, I want all of you to understand that we view this very significantly statewide. I know you sometimes feel alone, but you're not," Freudenthal told the crowd.
The meeting touched on the possible source of brucellosis in Sublette County, the effectiveness of vaccines, methods of transmission, the possibility of forming a brucellosis task force and other related issues.
So far, tests have shown the disease has not spread beyond the one herd. If the illness is found in more than one herd, Wyoming could lose its brucellosis-free status, leading other states to prohibit out-of-state shipment of Wyoming cattle or require stepped-up testing.
Brucellosis can cause cattle to abort calves and in some rare instances can cause undulant fever in humans.
The economic consequences to ranchers and their communities could be severe. Colorado has already imposed restrictions on Wyoming cattle.
"If we do not act expeditiously and in a thoughtful manner, the other states will go down like dominos and we'll be in a much worse situation that we are in today," Freudenthal said.
State Veterinarian Jim Logan said other states "may well impose some type of restraints on us" regardless of whether Wyoming keeps it's brucellosis-free status. "If Wyoming was to lose that status, it would mean breeding cattle and test-eligible females would have to be tested prior to being moved across state lines and maybe prior to the sale of ownership."
So far, preliminary tests show that 31 of 391 head of cattle on a ranch near Boulder, which is about 10 miles south of Pinedale, have tested positive for the disease. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, is conducting tests to confirm the outbreak.
Valerie Reagan, an associate director of the Animal and Plant Health Service, said cattle herds at risk of contracting brucellosis may have to be vaccinated against the disease again.
Currently, ranchers target vaccines at certain, younger, at- risk cattle. A whole-herd adult vaccination would include giving booster shots to adult cattle that have already been vaccinated against the disease. It is costly and, according to federal officials, requires extensive testing to be sure the herd is not already infected.
Every one of the 31 Boulder-area cows that tested positive for brucellosis had been vaccinated against the disease. Local producers questioned the effectiveness of the current vaccine.
Randy Bolgiano, president of the Green River Valley Cattleman's Association, said a cooperative approach is needed to combat brucellosis.
"The beef industry in this state is in this pickle together, but we are willing to be cooperative partners to resolve this and we need to look for positive solutions," he said. "But we will not be zoned or redistricted or gerrymandered into cooperating. If we can't agree to seek solutions on an equal footing, then we might as well not even get started."
Date: 12/22/03
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