NEWS RELEASE
JULY 31, 1998

Jackson County Animal Results in from USDA

Animal Non-Compatible for Tuberculosis

Michigan Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Coordinator Bob Bender today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture released Bovine Tuberculosis test results from a suspect animal in Jackson County. These results are from tissue recently sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory at the USDA in Ames, Iowa. The tissue was sent there for definitive determination after extensive trace back testing classified this animal as suspect.

The results report the tissue were non-compatible for Bovine Tuberculosis.

"This is excellent news in our efforts to eliminate this disease," said Bender. "Our aggressive testing program and strategy to eradicate this disease continues. With this news, all indicators are this disease is confined to an area of northeast Michigan."

"I am happy to report that this herd can now be released from quarantine," said Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Dan Wyant.

To date, more than 10,500 animals from 304 herds have already been tested. Only one cow from an Alpena farm has been confirmed to have bovine tuberculosis.

Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic bacterial disease spread mainly through repeated and prolonged direct respiratory exposure to infected animals. Since 1995, an extensive surveillance program has been underway. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been monitoring deer statewide but has only found cases of white-tailed deer with bovine tuberculosis in a five county area of northeast Michigan that includes Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties. This area of the state is known to have extremely high numbers of deer as well as extensive supplemental feeding.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: Geralyn Lasher
July 31, 1998 (517) 241-2112