PIERRE , S.D.  

The South Dakota Animal Industry Board has confirmed that one adult cow was lost in a herd of 175 unvaccinated animals in Aurora County . 

Anthrax is a very serious quarantinable disease because it can cause the rapid loss of a large number of animals in a very short time.  Often, animals are found dead with no illness detected.   

Strict enforcement of quarantines and proper burning and burying of carcasses from cattle suspected to have died from anthrax is important to prevent further soil contamination with the bacterial spores.

Producers should consult their veterinarians and vaccinate their livestock, if deemed appropriate.

“It would make good sense to continue to vaccinate cattle and other livestock in that area for the next several years,” said Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, State Veterinarian.

Dr. Oedekoven reports that anthrax spores survive indefinitely in contaminated soil and that much of South Dakota has the potential of experiencing an outbreak.

Significant climate change, such as drought, floods, and winds, can expose anthrax spores to grazing livestock.  Alkaline soils, high humidity and high temperatures present conditions for anthrax spores to vegetate and become infectious to grazing livestock.

*OEDEKOVEN (OH’ dih koh ven)

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