11-26 IAN Brucellosis

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) has adjusted the boundary for the brucellosis Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) in eastern Idaho.  The expansion was prompted by identification of a cattle herd outside the DSA that tested positive for brucellosis early this year.  The DSA is located on the Idaho-Wyoming border and includes portions of Teton, Bonneville, and Caribou counties.  The expansion will add all Fremont County to the DSA.

Here is ISDA veterinarian Dr. Scott Leibsle: “We have had 2 herds test positive for brucellosis. One of them was in the designated surveillance area  and the 2nd herd was actually outside of the designated surveillance area.” After investigating the incident and doing some research and surveillance of the area, we deemed it appropriate to expand the designated surveillance area. Obviously there is elk–cattle interaction that is going on so we deemed it appropriate to expand it.

The first DSA was established in Idaho in 2010 to help prevent transmission of brucellosis, a disease carried by infected wildlife and which causes cattle to abort their young.  Cattle in the DSA are required to undergo increased surveillance testing prior to change of ownership or movement out of the area.