Texas officials report ‘unusual’ anthrax case in a Hardeman County cow

August 13, 2021

1 Comment

Texas animal officials reported the second animal anthrax case of the year on Aug. 6. The confirmed case was reported in a cow from Hardeman County.

This follows a report of a case in a captive white-tailed deer in July.

The premises is located in the northern portion of the county, northwest of Quanah, TX, and has been quarantined. The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) rules require proper disposal of affected carcasses and vaccination of other cattle on the premises prior to release of the quarantine.

“TAHC personnel will continue to closely monitor the case in Hardeman County,” said Dr. Andy Schwartz, TAHC State Veterinarian and Executive Director. “Because this isn’t a common area for anthrax to occur, we encourage producers in the county to consult with their local veterinary practitioner if they suspect their animals are exposed to anthrax or are interested in vaccinating their livestock.”

Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, which is a naturally occurring organism with worldwide distribution, including certain parts of Texas. Cases in Texas are most often found in portions of Crockett, Val Verde, Sutton, Edwards, Kinney and Maverick counties. This case in Hardeman County is unusual in that anthrax hasn’t been reported in the county for several decades.