Texas receives $500,000 for TB program

AUSTIN, TEXAS - 8/25/05 - The Texas Animal Health Commission received $500,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help the state regain its tuberculosis-free (TB) status.

With more than 335,000 head of cattle in Texas? 812 dairy operations, regaining the state?s TB-free status is a ?time-consuming and expensive endeavor,? officials say.

The state?s efforts employ a five-prong program that includes testing of dairy, purebred and seed stock herds. This month, officials report testing more than half of the targeted 2,400 purebred and seed stock herds in Texas. The goal is to complete testing by the end of the year, officials add.

TB is caused by the Mycobacterium bovis bacteria and is a contagious, infectious and communicable disease that affects cattle, bison, deer, elk, goats and other animal species as well as humans, officials say.

Michigan and Texas are the only states currently without the TB-free status. Texas lost its status in 2002 after two TB-infected cattle herds were detected. Michigan reportedly is dealing with the disease in wildlife.