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Tuberculosis Discovered In South Dakota Cattle Herd

Cattle

Animal health officials report a new case of a chronic cattle disease in Corson County. 

This is the first discovery of bovine tuberculosis in South Dakota since 2017. The respiratory disease can spread to humans and other animals. 

The current case originated from a Minnesota meatpacking plant in January. 

State Veterinarian Dusty Oedekoven says USDA and animal health officials were delayed in tracing the animal’s original herd. 

“The cow that had the initial lesions did not have official identification and that's the tool that we use as animal health officials to trace back and find where the animal originated from.” 

Oedekoven says the investigation lasted more than a month, and time was spent cross-refencing cattle from multiple sellers. He says there are concerns about potential disease spread. 

“One of the main worries is the impact on the cattle industry as a whole in our state. When we find tuberculosis, we want to do a complete job in following up. Has it been established in other herds that are adjacent to the infected ranch, or have there been sales out of the infected ranch?” 

Humans can contract the disease from the breath of infected cattle. But Oedekoven says the only ways to contract it through food are by drinking unpasteurized milk or eating raw or undercooked meat. 

“This is a disease that can be passed in unpasteurized milk. And of course, we have pasteurized milk ordinances that help protect the public from not only TB, but from more common bacterial pathogens that may be found in milk. So, there's really not a food safety issue here.” 

The Game, Fish and Parks Department reports herds in Harding, Hutchinson, Tripp and Yankton counties had cases of the disease within the past eight years. 

State and federal agriculture officials say they will continue to monitor and test for infected cattle.