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Anthrax is NOT a food safety issue
From "Beef: Questions &
Answers" newsletter*
by Charlene Schuster, Executive Director, Montana Beef
Council
| "For
these reasons, there has never been a case of intestinal
anthrax reported in the United State from eating
USDA-inspected meat." |
Long before Sept. 11, the beef industry had been concerned
about the threat of bioterrorism. Staff and leaders have
been involved in ongoing discussions with USDA about the
topic for several years.
By January 2001, the foot-and-mouth epidemics in Europe
had heightened awareness about biosecurity at the U.S.
borders and the farm/ranch level in the United States.
That heightened sense of alert remains in place at U.S.
ports of entry and immigration channels.
While foot-and mouth disease can spread from one animal
to another, anthrax is not spread this way. A few anthrax
outbreaks typically occur each year in the United States,
which means producers and veterinarians are well aware
of the symptom and treatmentsand vaccine is available.
Anthrax is not a food safety issue in the United States.
Infected animals would not pass either antemortem or
post-mortem inspections. For these reasons, there has
never been a case of intestinal anthrax reported in
the United State from eating USDA-inspected meat. This
threat is nearly non-existent with modern food safety
inspection procedures and standards.
To protect the food supply, many feedlots, meat packers
and food processors have restricted access to their
facilities and increased security. Livestock producers
should consider restricting access to their property
and remain vigilant to protect the nation's food supply.
Human anthrax exposure
When anthrax infects humans, it usually is due to an
occupational exposure to infected animals or their products.
Most (95 percent) anthrax infections in humans occur
when the bacterium enters a cut or abrasion on the skin,
such as when a producer handles a sick or dead animal,
or when workers handle contaminated wool, hides or hair
products (especially goat products) from infected animals.
Humans can contract anthrax in three ways. The skin
form is usually seen in people who work with animal
carcasses, wool, hides or fur. The infections are seen
as large, local abscesses, often on the hand or finger.
These skin infections can spread to the blood stream
and cause serious illness or death. About 20 percent
of untreated cases of cutaneous anthrax are fatal.
Inhalation anthrax is usually fatal unless treated
early with antibiotics.
The intestinal form results from ingesting the bacteria
and is characterized by acute inflammation of the intestinal
tracts. Initial signs include nausea, loss of appetite,
vomiting and fever, followed by abdominal pain, vomiting
of blood and severe diarrhea. Intestinal anthrax results
in death in 25 to 60 percent of the cases.
For a copy of a beef industry publication with additional
information on Animal Disease and Biosecurity,
contact the Montana Beef Council, PO Box 5386, Helena,
MT 59604, 406-442-5111 or e-mail: beefcncl@mt.net.
Other safety precautions
- Wash your hands thoroughly after handling livestock.
- Keep dogs and other pets out of pastures and away
from carcasses during an anthrax outbreak
- Do not swim in stock tanks or stagnant ponds in
pastures where deaths have occurred.
- Report animal carcasses in streams or rivers to
local sheriff or police departments.
Beef:
Questions & Answers is a joint project between
MSU Extension and the Montana Beef Council. This column
informs producers about current consumer education,
promotion and research projects funded through the
$1 per head checkoff. For more information, contact
the Montana Beef Council at (406) 442-5111 or at beefcncl@mt.net
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