Anthrax - What to expect if your animals may be infected

Introduction

This brochure provides Canadian livestock producers with information about what happens when anthrax is suspected or detected on their farms.

About anthrax

Anthrax is a fatal disease caused by bacteria that exists in soil. While all mammals can become infected, anthrax is contracted most often by grazing animals. Infection normally occurs when animals consume contaminated feed or water. Animals and people can also become infected through skin wounds.

As a precaution, producers should not handle an animal carcass suspected of being infected with anthrax.

In Canada, anthrax is a federally reportable disease. This means that producers or veterinarians must notify the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) of all suspected or confirmed cases.

Anthrax progresses rapidly. Often the first sign of an anthrax outbreak is one or more sudden deaths in affected livestock. Animals that don't die suddenly may show a number of different signs, including:

• depression
• distress
• difficulty breathing
• lack of appetite
• high fever
• swelling
• bloody discharge from all orifices
• absence of clotting

Anthrax can be treated with antibiotics if signs of illness are detected early.

Anthrax disease control

The CFIA takes immediate disease control actions in response to anthrax. While all disease response situations are different, the steps involved in an anthrax response normally include the following:

• declaration of an infected place
• vaccination
• disposal
• decontamination

Declaration of an infected place

If animals are suspected or confirmed to be infected with anthrax, a CFIA veterinarian will visit the farm to meet with the producer and to inspect the animals. At this stage, the premises will be declared an "infected place" to control the spread of the disease. This means that no animals are allowed to enter or leave the property without CFIA permission.

While the property is under a declaration, the producer is responsible for:

• moving healthy animals to clean pastures (under CFIA approval) to limit further infection, where possible;
• monitoring the herd for any new cases or deaths;
• maintaining fences and gates around the animals to control movement and minimize access by wildlife;
• reporting all sick and dying animals, and any that escape from the declared premises;
• informing all persons entering the farm of the declaration; and
• properly disposing of carcasses and decontaminating tools, equipment and contaminated ground.

Vaccination and vaccine distribution

The CFIA veterinarian will assess the health of animals on the farm and recommend that susceptible animals be vaccinated. The CFIA will provide sufficient initial vaccine for all potentially exposed animal species (as indicated on the vaccine label). Producers are responsible for administering vaccinations.

Animals should be monitored twice daily for a minimum of 14 days following vaccination. While vaccination usually stops further deaths within approximately eight days, additional deaths may occur for up to 14 days after vaccination.

Vaccine is not to be administered within eight days of antibiotic treatment as the antibiotics can interfere with the vaccine. Additionally, animals should not be vaccinated within 42 days before slaughter.

Disposal supervision

Prompt, appropriate disposal of animal carcasses and contaminated material reduces risks to animals and humans.

A CFIA inspector will supervise disposal to verify that the process is adequate to control the spread of the disease. Acceptable disposal methods include incineration on the farm or deep burial. Municipal or provincial regulations may affect the available disposal options.

In situations where incineration or burial are not immediately possible, the CFIA may permit carcasses to be covered under a plastic tarp to prevent scavenging or other means of possible disease spread.

Decontamination supervision

Producers must decontaminate the ground where an infected carcass is found. They must also decontaminate any equipment or tools used for handling the carcass or any contaminated material.

A CFIA inspector will discuss decontamination options, and will inspect cleaned and disinfected areas and equipment.

Payment of a limited indemnity

The CFIA pays a limited indemnity to producers to help cover the cost of disposal.

Cattle, bison, horses, cervids, sheep, goats, swine and camelids (llamas and alpacas) are eligible for indemnity payments once disposal and decontamination are appropriately completed.

Beyond anthrax indemnity, other financial assistance may be available through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and provincial/territorial governments. For more information, contact your local Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada office and/or your provincial/ territorial agriculture ministry office.

Removal of infected place declaration

When a producer opts to vaccinate, the CFIA will remove the declaration 21 days after all vaccinations are completed, as long as 21 days have passed since the last death due to anthrax.

When a producer opts not to vaccinate, removal of the declaration may occur when colder temperatures prohibit grazing, as long as 21 days have passed since the last death due to anthrax.

Confidentiality

As directed by the Privacy Act and other federal statutes, the CFIA is required to protect private information collected. Any information provided by the producer during a disease investigation and response is treated as confidential, unless otherwise indicated.

Questions or concerns?

If you have any questions or concerns related to the CFIA's disease response activities, please do not hesitate to contact:

Name of CFIA representative

Phone number

More Information about anthrax

For more information on Canada's approach to anthrax, call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 or visit www.inspection.gc.ca