Cow In Northwestern Minn. Dies Of Anthrax

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota has recorded its first case of anthrax in a cow since 2008.

The Board of Animal Health said Friday that tests confirm a 4-year-cow found dead Monday on a farm in Pennington County of northwestern Minnesota died of anthrax. The beef herd had not been vaccinated against the disease.

Board spokeswoman Bethany Hahn says a veterinarian will lift the quarantine on the herd 30 days after the cow's death if there are no further cases.

Anthrax is caused by spores in the soil. Grazing animals are most likely to be infected after periods of heavy rain, flooding or excavation.

Since 2000, all reported cases of anthrax in cattle have been in northwestern Minnesota. Unlike bovine tuberculosis, Hahn says, past anthrax cases have not led to restrictions on moving cattle.

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