CANADA-CATTLE DISEASE.
DOZENS of cattle in eastern Manitoba have been slaughtered since January after federal inspectors found they were infected with a tick-borne disease that destroys the animals’ red blood cells.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency disease control specialist Sandra Stephens said inspectors are still investigating the outbreak of anaplasmosis in the rural municipalities of Lac du Bonnet and Alexander.
"We will keep looking until we turn up all negatives," Stephens said of the ongoing testing at several cow-calf operations.
Cattle in Alberta and Saskatchewan are also being tested, as animals from Manitoba producers often go out of province to large feedlot operators.
This disease is not common in Manitoba and is believed to have been introduced by an animal purchased from the United States.
Anaplasmosis is more common in the U.S. It’s only been found in Canada seven times since 1969. An animal in Saskatchewan tested positive last year.
Stephens said that in Manitoba, anaplasmosis is most likely spread by ticks and biting flies.
The disease is deadly for older animals and serious but rarely fatal in animals one to two years old. It causes fever, anemia, weakness and respiratory distress.
Infected dairy cattle also have a rapid decline in milk production.
Stephens said the disease poses no risk to humans.
"There is no evidence tying this to infection in people," she said.