By James Peters

Bovine tuberculosis in Nicola Valley ‘never before’ seen in Canada

Jan 22, 2019 | 1:42 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — Canada’s Chief Veterinary Officer says a strain of bovine tuberculosis found in a Nicola Valley cattle herd has never been seen in Canada before.

In an update to an ongoing investigation of bovine TB dated Jan. 9, Dr. Jaspinder Komal says four confirmed cases of the disease have been found in the initial herd.

Testing of the initial herd is almost complete and Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials are conducting trace-out testing as well.

Cows from the initial herd have been traced to ranches elsewhere in BC, as well as in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

A total of 25 herds are under movement controls in the three provinces as testing continues, totalling about 18,000 animals.

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Komal’s update notes the four confirmed cases in the Nicola Valley herd include the first cow confirmed to have the disease when it was slaughtered in October of 2018.

None of the animals entered the food chain, and Komal says there is no risk to the food supply or human health.

Tissue testing of the originally-infected cow revealed the TB strain as “distinct from any cases previously detected in Canadian wildlife or domestic livestock.”