Bovine tuberculosis (TB) was detected in wild deer in some Michigan counties, causing officials to designate two bovine TB testing areas.
Bovine TB was detected in wild deer in Benzie, Crawford, and Otsego counties, during the 2023 season. Because of that, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has designated two testing areas.
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One area includes specific portions of Manistee and Benzie counties. The other testing area includes portsions of Crawford and Otsego counties.
All of the cattle and bison herds within those areas will be tested to protect animal health, public health, and market access for Michigan’s cattle, meat and milk products.
“Whenever there is a bovine TB-positive wild deer found outside of the counties where the disease is known to be endemic, it is part of MDARD’s routine response to test all cattle and bison herds within a 10-mile radius of that deer’s location,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. “Completing the testing will help Michigan maintain its split-state status and ensure these animals have not contracted the disease. The testing is just one part of MDARD’s comprehensive Bovine TB Program, which steadily works toward the eradication of the disease.”
Bovine tuberculosis is an infectious disease that can affect both humans and animals. It’s slow-growing and is usually spread through respiratory secretions when infected animals expose uninfected animals by nose-to-nose contact or through shared feed and water.
Michigan’s existing bTB area includes Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties. The disease is established in the deer population there and can be transmitted between deer and cattle. Michigan has been working to combat bTB for 30 years. The level of disease in wild deer is low, but has remained steady which indicates to researchers that they need to use new tools.
More information on bovine TB and Michigan’s bovine TB program can be found at michigan.gov/mdard/animals/diseases/bovine-tuberculosis.