Bovine tuberculosis has been identified in a North Dakota cow herd.
The herd is located in Sargent County about five hours drive south of Winnipeg.
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture says the strain, Mycobacterium bovid, has not been found before in the U.S. and is similar to cases found in Mexico.
Two animals tested positive for the disease at an out-of-state slaughter plant in December 2018.
Five additional cows from the Sargent County farm were confirmed positive by veterinarians from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.
Tests are ongoing to determine how the disease infected this herd.
Ag officials say there are no other cattle herds in direct contact with the farm.
A bovine TB outbreak in cattle at Jenner in southern Alberta in 2016 was also identified as a rare strain from Mexico. That outbreak found six infected cows, resulting in destruction of 11,500 cattle and up to $15 million compensation costs.
An investigation by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was unable to determine source of the infection.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
