ELK MOUNTAIN, Wyo. — A recent anthrax outbreak affecting both wildlife and livestock in Wyoming has prompted swift intervention by state health and agricultural officials. This comes after a moose carcass in Carbon County tested positive for anthrax, marking the state’s first confirmed case in wildlife since 1956, and numerous cattle in the vicinity have also fallen victim to the disease.
State veterinarian Dr. Hallie Hasel announced that the outbreak has claimed the lives of approximately 50 to 60 cattle near Elk Mountain. “We are dealing with a concentrated outbreak, but our investigations are ongoing and there might be additional losses which are yet to be identified,” Hasel mentioned during a briefing.
Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, poses significant risks due to its ability to produce resilient spores that can lie dormant in soil for years. These spores can reactivate and infect animals during periods that alternate between drought and heavy rainfall.
Animals usually contract anthrax by inhaling or ingesting spores present in contaminated soil, water, or plants. For livestock, the symptoms of anthrax include sudden death, fever, bloody diarrhea, difficulty breathing, lethargy, and disorientation. Although it is less common in humans, anthrax can transmit through contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products, posing a severe health risk.
In response to the outbreak, the Wyoming Livestock Board is actively collaborating with cattle producers and veterinarians to curb the spread of the disease and safeguard both animal and human health. Measures have been put into place, including the administration of an anthrax vaccine, which they laud as highly effective in preventing the disease across various livestock species.
Officials are also emphasizing the importance of avoiding contact with deceased animals and advise immediate medical consultation if exposure is suspected. These precautions are essential to prevent any potential transmission of the disease to humans.
The last major outbreak of anthrax in Wyoming’s wildlife was recorded over six decades ago in Sublette County, making the recent cases particularly alarming for wildlife conservationists and agricultural communities alike.
This outbreak underscores the ongoing challenges faced by agricultural stakeholders in managing zoonotic diseases, which can devastate livestock industries and pose serious public health risks. More broadly, it highlights the critical need for environmental monitoring and early detection systems to manage the threats posed by dormant diseases as climate patterns evolve.
As the situation in Elk Mountain and the surrounding areas continues to develop, state officials remain vigilant, providing updates and guidance to concerned citizens and the agricultural community, working diligently to contain the outbreak and prevent further losses.