Low Pathogenic Avian influenza in VA

Live Bird Market Closure in the Northeast

Infectious Salmon Anemia

CWD in MN and WI

VS Consolidates Offices

Pseudorabies in IA, PA, and MN

The Greater Yellowstone Area: Brucellosis in Bison and Elk

Homeland Security Grants to States and Tribal Lands

Assessing Brucellosis in the Tristate Area: Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho

Tuberculosis in Michigan

Tuberculosis in Michigan

FY 2002 was a year that proved how effective increasing surveillance for bovine TB is at finding longstanding cases of disease. At the end of FY 2002, the State of Michigan remained classified as modified accredited. However, Michigan has submitted a split-status request that is under consideration. This would essentially regionalize the State, so that the areas free of TB could advance in their disease status while the areas with continuing outbreaks remain under tighter restriction.

During 2002, six beef herds and two dairy herds were identified in northeastern lower Michigan. These herds are most likely associated with the endemic infection of white-tailed deer in that area.

Only two States remain as not having accredited-free status, Michigan and Texas. Michigan is currently classified as modified accredited for the entire State; however, VS is working with Michigan officials to develop split-status requirements for the State that would better focus TB eradication efforts. In December 2001, VS and the State of Michigan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish criteria for the maintenance of split-status zones for TB in Michigan. The MOU is a cooperative agreement to eradicate bovine TB in northeastern lower Michigan. A proposal for split-status zones for Michigan should be published in the upcoming fiscal year.

In Michigan, TB transmission is occurring by traditional routes from an infected animal to a susceptible species of animal. Transmission from deer to deer is predominately from artificial manipulation of a wild population; congregation occurs with supplemental feeding of deer. Developing management actions that limit deer congregation will help decrease TB transmission. Eradication of TB from the free-ranging white-tailed deer will take several years, but increasing prevalence and geographical distribution of infected deer could be curtailed quickly, given adequate surveillance. Since June 1998, there have been 22 TB-infected beef herds in Michigan, three infected dairy herds, and one infected captive cervid herd.