The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced the discovery of Bovine Tuberculosis in two northern Michigan cattle herds on Monday afternoon.
This comes less than two months after a herd in Charlevoix was reported to be under quarantine for the disease. These latest cases were discovered in Alpena and Presque Isle counties during annual surveillance checkups.
Bovine TB is commonly found in the region's white-tailed deer population. It can spread easily across species, including to humans, and can become deadly if not treated.
Michigan State University's Phil Durst, who studies bovine TB, told WCMU the disease can spread directly or indirectly, through close proximity to infected animals or other means.
"Maybe it was saliva left on feed that was where an infected animal was," Durst said. "Something that a cow fed on. And we think that's probably the more likely way that it reached some herds."
Durst says it's important for farmers to be vigilant about what wildlife their animals come into contact with to help stop the spread of the disease.
"The most effective way to prevent bovine TB from infecting cattle herds is to protect cattle from contact with wild deer and the disease they could be carrying," said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland in a news release.
Durst said that people feeding deer also adds to the problem.
"It's important that people do not consider deer as outside pets," Durst said. "They're not pets. They're wild animals and they're wild animals that can be infected with a variety of diseases that frankly people don't want to have and shouldn't have."
Bovine TB is most commonly found in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Oscoda counties in Michigan.
