February 26, 2004 - Federal and state officials are currently investigating a preliminary case of bovine TB in a bull from a small beef herd in mid Michigan’s Barry County, though the strain is known to NOT be from Michigan, today announced Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Dan Wyant and State Veterinarian Dr. Joan Arnoldi.

Michigan has been combating bovine TB in both livestock and wildlife for the past few years, Wyant said, but noted that all livestock cases have been from the area of the northeastern Lower Peninsula. He added that nearly every cattle, bison, goat and privately owned deer herd in the entire state has been tested at least once for TB, with no disease found outside of this known affected area.

Arnoldi explained that the bull came from Canada to a Michigan livestock auction market where it was purchased by a Barry County producer. The producer later sold the animal and it went to a slaughterhouse in Pennsylvania, where an inspector noticed lesions typical of TB and sent samples for diagnosis. Recent preliminary results from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, where the animal was tested indicate it to be bovine TB positive. However, through a process known as DNA fingerprinting, it was confirmed to NOT be the strain of TB unique to Michigan. Scientists are now working to determine the particular strain and origin of the TB.

"While we are waiting for more answers and laboratory analysis and confirmation, we wanted to share information on this case to continue our practice of being forthright and transparent," Wyant said. "Michigan has an aggressive and comprehensive TB surveillance and eradication program in place that ensures quick detection and response."

Arnoldi indicated that USDA and MDA veterinarians are working together to conduct the epidemiological investigation, which includes tracing any animals that may have entered Michigan with the bull. To date, results of this investigation have shown that five other animals entered the country at the same time. Three have already gone to slaughter, with the other two ending up on farms in Allegan and Ionia counties. These two animals, along with the Barry County farm, are under quarantine and will remain so until testing and other work is finalized.

Michigan has applied for a "split state status" designation from the USDA, which would split the state into two TB classification zones and ultimately recognize most of Michigan as free from TB. This discovery should not impact this effort as the TB strain is not from the state and therefore does NOT indicate spread from Northeast Michigan. Additionally, the proposal includes stringent testing and surveillance requirements.

The state has in place a Bovine TB Eradication Project comprised of a multi-agency team of experts from the Michigan Departments of Agriculture, Community Health, and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It continues to work collaboratively with input from the agriculture and hunting industries as well as local communities to eradicate the disease from Michigan.

Since the TB Eradication effort began in Michigan, MDA has tested nearly all of its nearly 1 million livestock and cervid herds, with 32 herds testing positive for the disease, again all of which have been located in the northeastern Lower Peninsula. DNR has tested over 123,249 wild white-tailed deer, with 481 testing positive for bovine TB. Two elk and 42 carnivores/omnivores have also tested positive.