Livestock producers encouraged to protect animals from anthrax

March 8, 2011: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is urging livestock producers in the Prairie provinces to take the necessary precautions to protect their animals from anthrax this summer.

Anthrax is a naturally occurring disease that can have devastating affects on cattle, sheep, goats, horses and bison. The spores that cause the disease are known to exist in the soil across the Canadian prairies. They generally surface during the summer months, when heavy rainfall and flooding is followed by hot, dry temperatures.

"Given the recent and predicted climatic conditions, the risk of anthrax is poised to elevate this summer," says Dr. Brian Evans, Chief Veterinary Officer and Chief Food Safety Officer for Canada, "we encourage all livestock producers in the prairies to speak to their veterinarian about having their animals vaccinated, especially if their herd is in an area where anthrax has been found before."

While vaccinating livestock is the best protection against anthrax, producers should also

• avoid giving hay that was cut close to the soil or feed that had contact with soil to non-vaccinated animals
• thoroughly clean and disinfect equipment and footwear that may have had contact with contaminated soil
• wash clothes worn when tending to sick animals separately from the rest of the household laundry.

For more information on anthrax and Canada’s disease control measures, producers should call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 or visit www.inspection.gc.ca.

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Media enquiries:

CFIA Media Relations, 613-773-6600