NEWS RELEASE
June 25, 1998

New York Recognizes Michigan's Aggressive Efforts to Eliminate Bovine Tuberculosis

Test Results on Guinea Pig Show No Bovine Tuberculosis

Michigan Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Coordinator Bob Bender today announced that the State of New York has recognized that the bovine tuberculosis situation in deer is limited to a five-county area of northeast Michigan and is supporting a regional TB testing requirement on Michigan cattle, as opposed to a statewide testing requirement. The regional area is bound by the Straits of Mackinac to the North, Interstate 75 to the West, Lake Huron to the East, and Michigan Route 55 to the South. The news follows Michigan's June 17 announcement that bovine tuberculosis has been confirmed in one beef cow from that region.

"We're pleased that New York has recognized our aggressive testing program and efforts to eliminate this disease," said Bender. "New York's announcement allows us to focus on the only area of the state affected by this disease."

"Because bovine tuberculosis has only been found in the five-county area, we believe livestock farmers in the rest of the state should not be required to test for a disease they do not have," said Michigan Agriculture Director Dan Wyant. "It also allows our state veterinarians to focus on this priority area."

Bovine TB has occurred in northeast Michigan because of unique and unusual conditions existing there, scientists say. The prevalence of deer feeding, abnormally high deer populations and deer congregation at feeding sites have allowed the disease to establish in this area.

Michigan Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) veterinarians have been vigorously testing cattle and goats in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties since 1995, when a wild deer was confirmed to have the disease. Since then, more than 7,600 cattle and goats and over 8,600 deer have been tested for TB. One cow and 149 free-ranging, white-tailed deer have been found to have the disease, along with one captive deer farm.

By mid-July, state and federal veterinarians will have completed testing all test-eligible livestock within five miles of where infected wild deer have been found. Rigorous testing will occur until all known test-eligible cattle and goats in the five-county area have been tested.

This regional tuberculosis testing requirement only affects live animals sold or shipped to New York. Animals bound for slaughter are already routinely inspected for TB. Cattle owners are encouraged to contact their veterinary practitioners prior to moving cattle to another state, to obtain up-to-date health requirements.

The diagnostic testing of tissues submitted to the USDA's National Veterinary Services Lab (NVSL) continues to progress. Earlier this week NVSL completed the diagnostic guinea pig test being conducted to clarify previous inconclusive but suspicious test results for bovine TB. NVSL reports the results of the guinea pig test to be non-compatible for bovine TB.

This brings to seven the number of tissue samples submitted to NVSL that have cultured negative for bovine TB. Fifteen additional tissue samples are currently being cultured at NVSL.

Bovine tuberculosis is a slow-growing, bacterial disease that most commonly infects the respiratory system. This disease is most commonly spread from infected animals to susceptible animals in confined or overcrowded environmental conditions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: Geralyn Lasher
June 25, 1998 (517) 241-2112