Alberta TB source still unknown

The source of an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Canada may never be known according to an update in the Aug. 25 Grass Routes Newsletter (http://tinyurl.com/TBinAB) published by the Alberta Beef Produces (ABP). The outbreak, which was detected in six animals in September 2016, resulted in approximately 11,500 animals being destroyed. Although many farms and ranches were placed under quarantine, no new cases have been found beyond the original six which were determined to be from the same strain of bovine TB. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is continuing to investigate and conduct “trace-in” testing. However, the ABP newsletter noted, “Source remains an outstanding question and given the lack of obvious connections, we need to be prepared that the source may remain an unknown.”