Bovine TB tests up, but numbers may fall short
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ALPENA -- The number of bovine tuberculosis surveillance tests completed by state officials increased in January, but still may not be enough to meet testing requirements in all of the Northeast Michigan counties required to perform the surveillance.
Under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state must test at least 2,800 deer heads from the Modified Accredited Zone, which includes Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency and Oscoda counties.
The agreement also requires counties bordering the MAZ to submit 300 deer heads for testing, except for Presque Isle County, which is required to submit 500 deer heads for testing.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported on Jan. 29 that 2,554 deer heads had been tested in the MAZ -- 137 more heads than were last reported on Jan. 8 -- and three of the seven counties surrounding the MAZ have met their testing requirements.
Presque Isle, Iosco, and Ogema counties have met their requirements, but 53 more tests need to be completed in Cheboygan County, 151 in Crawford County, 77 in Otsego County and 15 in Roscommon County.
Of the deer tested in the four-county MAZ through Jan. 29, six tested positive for bovine TB in Alpena County, five tested positive in Alcona County, one tested positive in Montmorency County, and one tested positive in Oscoda County.
None of the deer tested in the counties surrounding the MAZ tested positive for the disease.
Nancy Barr, assistant state veterinarian and TB program coordinator, previously told The News if the state did not meet its surveillance goals for the MAZ and its surrounding counties, it could prompt state officials to have discussions with the USDA.
Barr previously said the state already tests cattle for bovine TB in the counties surrounding the MAZ and, if the state does not meet its deer surveillance goals, discussions could result in further testing for cattle producers.
Barr said on Wednesday there were no further updates on the agreement the state has with the USDA.
Kelly Straka, state wildlife veterinarian with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said in an email to The News, any deer harvested between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 last year can be included in the surveillance testing.
Straka, who also oversees the disease lab where the samples are sent, said the DNR continues to collect and test deer to meet the requirements.
"We often receive deer early the following year that people stored up during hunting seasons or didn't have time to bring to our offices over the holidays," she said in the email. "The volume can be substantial, receiving several hundred deer in January is not unusual."
Straka said the DNR's final surveillance summary is not typically available until March, because of the time it takes to complete the tests. She said final results for the culture of bovine TB can take as long as eight weeks.
Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.