Cattle producers in Michigan are facing another bovine tuberculosis (TB) finding, this time in Presque Isle county, just north of the state's modified accredited zone (MAZ).

Michigan state veterinarian Nora Wineland said, “Bovine TB was recently confirmed in a small beef herd in Presque Isle County. The animals were confirmed positive for bovine TB by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories on April 26, 2019. Every time bovine TB-positive animals are identified, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) work to track where the animals have come from and how they could have been exposed.

"A key piece of information used in the investigation is whole-genome sequencing. Whole-genome sequencing is a specific test that can identify the DNA of the TB bacteria, helping to determine the source of the infection. DNA results are expected by the end of May. When these results are received, an informational meeting will be held to discuss potential next steps for Presque Isle County as a result of finding this infected herd,” Wineland added.

Bovine TB is a bacterial disease primarily affecting cattle; however, it can be spread between wildlife populations and other mammals, including people. Michigan has been working to eradicate bovine TB since 1994, when a hunter-harvested whitetail deer was found positive in Alpena County, MDARD said.

The new case is Michigan’s 75th cattle herd to be identified with bovine TB and the first in Presque Isle since 2000.

Michigan also recently identified a bovine TB-positive cattle herd in Alpena County (within the MAZ) and created a high-risk zone around infected whitetail deer.