Bambi's at TB Risk, Too

Happy Friday avid readers!
I did a little snooping and found that humans are NOT the only creatures that can contract TB. Turns out in places in the Midwest, typical, cattle have been found to have bovine tuberculosis.

This weekend there is a study being done by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) testing deer heads for bovine TB. In order to obtain enough deer heads for a study, this weekend the DNR is setting up deer head drop off points, for hunters, in the Indiana area, as it is the opening weekend for deer season.

Bovine TB is a chronic bacterial disease that primarily affects cattle, but can be transmitted to other warm blooded animals. But fear not meat eaters of the world. According to the DNR, human contraction is unlikely from eating the meat of infected animals, but it is advised people take consideration when handling and cooking their meat. Uhh, yeah, always.

A few counties in Indiana have each had bovine TB cases this year, all connected to the same deer and elk farm. In order to prevent further spreading, the animals on the farm were quarantined and then, well, let's just say, they won't be spreading bovine TB anymore.

The reason for the testing is to make sure none of the infected animals "jumped the fence" spreading TB to wild deer, which could then spread to other animals.

This study will not only be testing for bovine TB, but some of the tissues will be sent to Purdue University's Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for the testing of chronic wasting disease, which is a disease found in deer. It's a two in one study. Well done DRN, well done!

Have wonderful weekends and keep the hand sanitizer in sight!