Sidney Herald

Although the word anthrax can bring fear to the public, local health officials stress the potential of the disease affecting individuals is remote.

Late last week, Dr. Tom Linfield, the state veterinarian, confirmed 37 cows from a single herd on tribal land northwest of Culbertson died from anthrax. Local and state veterinarians have been on-site at the Roosevelt County premises and have taken appropriate measures to prevent further spread of the disease.

Local health officials stress: Anthrax is not uncommon in cows; this situation is not a risk to humans unassociated with the infected cattle; human to human transmission doesn't occur; issues regarding symptoms or questions of treatment for humans should be given to your health care provider; and issues regarding symptoms or questions of treatment for your cattle should be given to your veterinarian.

"It doesn't transmit from human to human," said Kathy Helmuth, registered nurse at the Richland Health Department.

Jim Murphy, disease surveillance specialist with the state Department of Public Health and Human Services, said in a news release that he and his colleagues consulted with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the incident and its potential risk to humans. He said they confirmed that only individuals who came into direct contact with the carcass or bodily fluids of infected cattle need to be monitored for potential exposure to the disease.

"Based on our consultation with the CDC, simply being in the vicinity of the animals suspected or confirmed to have anthrax is not an exposure, and no treatment or observation is necessary," Murphy added. "Even a person who handles a carcass or bodily fluids while wearing gloves would not be considered to be exposed."

There are three types of anthrax: cutaneous (spread through contact with the skin), inhalation and gastrointestinal (caused by ingesting infected meat or milk). About 95 percent of human anthrax infections occur when the bacterium enters a cut or abrasion on the skin during the handling of the animal or animal products. According to the CDC, inhalation of the bacterium is not a concern in this instance.

Murphy encouraged anyone who may have been in direct contact with the infected cattle to watch for signs and symptoms of the disease for up to a week after possible exposure. Symptoms might include:

Small, painless sores that develop into blisters and then into skin ulcers with black centers (cutaneous anthrax).

Nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and fever followed by severe stomach pain (gastrointestinal anthrax).

Anthrax depends on two factors working together - the presence of anthrax spores in the soil, and suitable weather conditions. The organism forms spores that can survive in the soil for decades.

Signs of anthrax in livestock usually appear 3-7 days after the anthrax spores are inhaled or swallowed, but may occur sooner if a large number of spores are inhaled. Once symptoms begin, animals usually die within two days.

Affected animals may stagger, have difficulty breathing, tremble, and finally collapse and die within a few hours. Initially, animals may have a rise in temperature, a period of excitement followed by staggering, depression, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, convulsions and death. In most cases of anthrax, one to several animals will be found dead without recognition of the early clinical signs.

editor@sidneyherald.com