The Wisconsin dairy herd that tested positive for Bovine Tuberculosis will continue to be tested for about another year. It was the first case of bTB detected in the state in 20 years. State officials confirmed the bovine tuberculosis case last October. Ag Department officials say the Dane County herd near Madison continues to be the only TB-affected herd in Wisconsin and is following a test and remove protocol to eradicate the disease.
Animals from this farm can only move directly to slaughter, rendering, or a restricted feedlot. Testing of the affected farm will continue on a monthly basis into 2020, and the herd will remain under quarantine until testing protocols show the herd is free of bTB. Once the quarantine is removed, the herd will be tested annually for five years to assure there is no disease recurrence.
Division of Animal Health and USDA’s APHIS staff continue to conduct trace investigations of sales from the affected herd. Since the confirmation of the TB-affected herd, there have been several hundred traces located in Wisconsin and 15 other states. Currently, there are 26 premises in Wisconsin that have some type of animal movement restriction due to exposure from the affected farm, says DATCP officials.
Bovine TB is a zoonotic disease, meaning animals can infect people. But people can also be a source of infection to cattle. The disease is most commonly spread through respiratory secretions, but can also be transmitted through unpasteurized milk from infected animals.
