IOSCO COUNTY, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced that two deer taken by hunters in northern Michigan have turned up positive for bovine tuberculosis (TB), one of which is outside of the zone in which TB is known to be endemic.
Another deer taken by a hunter 100 miles south of that location, in Shiawassee County, is also suspected to be positive for TB.
Tests on that deer may take four to eight weeks.<br>
In the meantime, officials are preparing to test cattle in the area in case the deer turns out to have TB.<br>
In response, the MDA and the USDA will test all cattle on farms within two 10-mile circles of the deer taken in Iosco County.<br>
That area includes about 90 herds of cattle. Whenever a deer is found to be positive for TB outside of the modified accredited zone, a rigorous testing regime is triggered to ensure that TB isn’t spreading.<br>
“It’s not surprising that an animal would walk across the boundary,” said John Tilden, a veterinarian and epidemiologist at the MDA.
“It’s one of those things that we take absolutely seriously. Our goal is to have the testing done before the producers want to move their animals out to pasture.”<br>
The Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) said it is taking the issue seriously.<br>
“Today’s announcement is troubling and disappointing news for Michigan’s agriculture industry, which has spent over a decade and in excess of $120 million working diligently to contain and eradicate bovine tuberculosis in our state,” said Wayne Wood, MFB president.<br>
“However, we want to reassure consumers that Michigan’s meat and dairy supply is safe, thanks to testing protocols already in place for producers and processors. We’ll be working with our members in the area to ensure that they are aware of the cattle testing and movement restrictions being imposed on them as a result of these findings.”<br>
Tilden said the MDA has a good relationship with producers in the area, and he doesn’t anticipate any problems. It’s in the best interest of producers to have cattle that are known to be TB-free, he said.<br>
The USDA’s annual program review last March pointed to multiple problems with the MDA’s efforts to eradicate TB. There were conflicts between state and federal officials over the issue, but now Michigan will not be eligible to receive TB-free status until, at the earliest, October 2008.<br>
New cases of TB could not only dash the state’s hopes to achieve TB-free status, but even cause it to lose its current split-state status.<br>
Michigan is split into three different TB zones: The modified accredited zone in the northern Lower Peninsula, where TB is known to exist; the modified accredited advanced zone in the southern Lower Peninsula, where TB has not been found, but which hasn’t yet been designated as TB-free; and the TB-free zone, which includes the entire Upper Peninsula, except for two small areas.