Anthrax Outbreak Killing Cattle

[Ripley]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/18/health/main783825.shtml

ENDERLIN, N.D., August 18, 2005

(AP) An anthrax outbreak has killed hundreds of cattle in parts of the Great Plains, forcing quarantines and devastating ranchers who worry how they will recover financially.

More than 300 animals in North Dakota have died from anthrax in what officials call the worst outbreak among livestock in state history. In South Dakota, at least 200 cattle have been killed. Two ranches in Texas were quarantined last month after anthrax was found in cattle, horses and deer, officials said.

Although anthrax didn't gain public notoriety until the still-unsolved mailing attacks that left five people dead in 2001, farmers have been dealing with the disease for decades. Spores that cause anthrax can sit dormant in the ground for as long 100 years, said Charles Stoltenow, an extension veterinarian at North Dakota State University.

"You're not going to be infected unless you skin and butcher an animal that's infected," says Martin Hugh-Jones, an anthrax expert and retired Louisiana State University professor. "As long as you're not tempted to open up a carcass, you're not in danger."

[SpiralHawk]

1. Bring back the buffalo

The cows have never been adapted to this Turtle Island land anyway, and the industrialization of the herds is a recipe for disaster.

Let the buffalo roam free (and impeach George Bush).

[patdem]

2. I love this quote: "As long as you're not tempted to open up a carcass,

you're not in danger."

I cannot recall when the last time I passed by a carcass that I was not tempted to cut it open!:rofl:

[uppityperson]

4. Again that rural/city difference pops up

I, on the other hand, am. Especially if it was one of my animals and I wanted to figure out why they were dieing.

[MisterP]

9. que?

[uppityperson]

12. Yesterday some were making fun of a small town (Crawford) woman

for being concerned about the influx of strangers she didn't know. I got tired of what was being expressed towards someone of a different culture (rural) based on assumptions. Basically. Some of us like small, rural areas where we know everyone and everyone knows us. Some of us like large or city areas where the opposite it true. We are just different, not good or bad. And a farmer or rancher or a "bushie" ruralite just might think nothing of doing an autopsy on a dead animal, where a city person might go ewwwww.

[MisterP]

13. I'd think that seeing the meat industry closer at hand would make for

weaker stomachs, come to think of it, once one sees all what goes on

[whosinpower]

3. You know what's weird

I read about this story from a Russian source - and totally disregarded it because of where the story was written.......I read it at least a couple of weeks ago.

[OKthatsIT]

5. I get the real info on 'disease outbreaks' here

a lot of professionals talk here.

http://discuss.agonist.org/yabbse/index.php?board=6

[OKthatsIT]

6. And here

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1000:

[wli]

7. any work on tracing the strain of anthrax?

Makes me wonder...

[Megahurtz]

8. Yeah, me too. n/t

[mom cat]

10. My thoughts exactly

[rexcat]

11. Bacillus anthracis, the causative organism for anthrax...

is common out west. In fact, cutaneous anthrax is seen on occasion in humans. People who work with cattle (live) or at the slaughter houses or tanning facilities. When we suspected anthrax the cultures were handled in a laminar flow hood so the laboratory personnel would not get infected (during my days as a clinical microbiologist). The strain of B. anthracis used by the military was cultured from a dead cow out west!

[jsamuel]

14. DU was on this weeks ago

[rocktivity]

15. I've e-mailed this story to their publicist

I was hoping they'd gotten this out of their systems two years ago when they killed that rhinoceros herd in Africa!


Anthrax Anthrology – No Hit Wonders (1985- 1991) on UME - September 20
Anthrax Alive 2 – CD on Sanctuary - September 20
Anthrax Alive 2 – DVD on Sanctuary - September 20

:headbang:
rocknation

[Delphinus]

16. Been a long time coming to the

mainstream media. I remember reading about this a while ago.