A new federal study released today has found that it's possible that cow manure contaminates wells in a county in Wisconsin and causes Cryptosporidium illnesses. The researchers looked at private wells in Kewaunee County, which is in northeastern Wisconsin on Lake Michigan. The county has a population of about 20,000 people, but there are 100,000 head of cattle in the area. About 12,000 residents get their water from private wells. The study used data from a countrywide pathogen occurrence study that lasted for a year. The scientist put the numbers into a quantitative microbial risk assessment to predict the cases of acute gastrointestinal illness linked to those wells. The results found that private well contamination could cause more than 300 acute gastrointestinal illnesses per … [Read more...]
Salmonella From Contact With Farm Animals
Contact with farm animals might be a bigger cause of bovine-associated salmonellosis in humans than we thought, according to a study published in the December volume of Emerging Infectious Disease, a scientific journal produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So, prevention efforts, which mostly focus on foodborne transmission, should be broadened to include animal contact, the study suggests. That would include farm workers, cattle producers, petting zoos or animal exhibits at fairs. Researchers suggest several preventative measures that minimize the likelihood of becoming infected with Salmonella from direct contact with farm animals. The first is washing hands with soap and water. The second, the high-risk group which include children under five, seniors, … [Read more...]
Central Valley Meat Says It’s Reopened For Business
One week after an undercover video prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to suspend operations at Central Valley Meat in Hanford, Calif., for what it described as "disturbing evidence of inhumane treatment of cattle," the company says it is reopened for business. "Sunday afternoon, the USDA informed us that it has accepted our action plan and we are free to reopen. With the announcement of that decision, Central Valley Meat will resume operations Monday morning and welcome our employees back to work," the statement said. "We have worked closely with both inspectors and industry experts while developing our USDA-approved action plan. As a result, Central Valley Meat will provide better training for our workers, better monitoring of our facilities, and more frequent … [Read more...]
UK Approves E. coli 0157 Vaccine for Cattle
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMC) of the Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs in the United Kingdom has approved the importation of Bioniche Life Sciences's E. coli 0157 vaccine for use in cattle. The vaccine will be used under conditions of a Special Treatment Certificate (STC). The vaccine reduces E. coli 0157:H7 shedding in cattle. The bacteria live in cattle intestines and is shed in their feces. Dr. Chris Low, Director of One Health at the University of Edinburgh's School of Veterinary Studies, said in a press release, "I am very pleased to see an STC issued for this application. On-farm vaccination is a logical preventative measure to reduce the risk of human exposure to E. coli 0157." "Farming and livestock agriculture are vital to feeding a … [Read more...]
Anthrax Suspected In Death Of 50 Cattle in Colorado
Anthrax has killed one cow and is suspected to have killed 50 others on a Logan County ranch in Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA). The ranch has been quarantined. None of the cattle left the location prior to quarantine or entered the food chain. CDA and public health officials are conducting an ongoing investigation, monitoring the people, cattle, and equipment that may have come into contact with anthrax. "Our focus is on the potential for human exposure," Dr. Tony Cappello, district public health administrator for the Northeast Colorado Health Department, said in a statement. "We are currently conducting our own public health investigation and contacting individuals that have been involved with the livestock. Anthrax is not spread from person to … [Read more...]
