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Bovine Tuberculosis Identified In Tripp County

Charles Michael Ray
/
SDPB

South Dakota's State Veterinarian says bovine tuberculosis has been confirmed in a Tripp County beef herd.

Dr. Dustin Oedekoven says an infected cow was identified last month by inspectors at a slaughterhouse in Texas. 

He says identification records linked the animal to the herd in Tripp County and further testing has found more animals have been infected. 

Oedekoven says the exact number of cattle with TB is not known at this point. He says bovine tuberculosis is not a threat to food safety. 

"TB at one point was a risk before pasteurization and meat inspection but that's well over 100 years ago now, so, pasteurization and cooking of food is always recommended but for so many purposes than just for bovine tuberculosis. But really, not in this day in age in our country at least a human health risk except for folks working in close proximity to those animals," Oedekoven says.

Oedekoven says cases of bovine TB are rare due to nationwide efforts to eradicate the disease. He says there is no treatment for the condition. Oedekoven says infected animals are not introduced into the food system.