State vet advises anthrax vaccinations for NW Minnesota cattle

ST. PAUL (AP) - 'State officials advised livestock producers in northwestern Minnesota to consider anthrax vaccinations for cattle grazing this summer.

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health's recommendation is for the counties of Kittson, Roseau, Marshall, Polk, Pennington, Red Lake, Norman and Mahnomen.

Anthrax is a naturally occurring disease caused by a bacteria that can lie dormant in the soil for years. Heavy rains and flooding bring anthrax spores to the surface, where they can be ingested by grazing animals.

Some isolated cases of anthrax were reported in northwestern Minnnesota cattle last year.

Officials say the risk of humans developing anthrax from naturally occurring bacteria is very low. Minnesota has recorded no human cases of anthrax since 1953.'

Minnesota Board of Animal Health: http://www.bah.state.mn.us/