NW Minn. bull dies of anthrax

(AP) - A bull in Marshall County has died from anthrax - marking the first case of the disease in 2007, authorities confirmed.

The state Board of Animal Health said Thursday that the bull was found dead on pasture last week. Tests confirmed that the bull had anthrax.

The herd had not been vaccinated for anthrax this year. The herd has since been taken off the pasture where the infection occurred and has been placed under quarantine for 30 days from the day the bull died.

Last year was the second-worst year for anthrax deaths in Minnesota. A total of 91 animals died on 28 farms in northwestern Minnesota.

Anthrax is a naturally occurring disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, which can lie dormant in the soil for years. Animals are most likely to be affected by anthrax in the summer while out on pasture.

"The animal that died was on pasture in northwest Minnesota, an area that has seen anthrax in recent years, so it is important that other northwestern Minnesota livestock producers seriously consider anthrax vaccinations for grazing animals," said Linda Glaser, senior veterinarian on the Board of Animal Health.

The board said that about 260 farms have had animals diagnosed with anthrax since it was first reported in the