Brucellosis Information
- Brucellosis Surveillance Requirements
- Establishment of Designated Surveillance Area (DSA)
- Brucellosis Surveillance Requirements in DSA
- Brucellosis Symptoms in Cattle
- Brucellosis Symptoms in Humans
- How Cattle are Exposed to Brucellosis
- Greater Yellowstone Area Risk Survey
Brucellosis is a contagious, costly disease of ruminant animals that also infects humans. Beginning in 1934, the eradication of brucellosis in the United States became a national effort with the formation of the cooperative state-federal brudellosis eradication program.
Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that causes decreased milk production, weight loss, infertility, loss of young, and lameness in cattle, elk and bison. The disease is contagious and rarely infects humans. On February 1, 2008, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared Texas brucellosis free, marking the first time in the 74-year history of the brucellosis eradication program that all 50 states had simultaneously achieved Class Free status.
Studies have shown that the costs of producing beef and milk would increase by an estimated $80 million annually in less than 10 years if brucellosis eradication program efforts were stopped.
In order to achieve Class Free status, no known cases of brucellosis in cattle may exist for the 12 months preceding the declaration. Once a state achieves, Class Free status, the USDA may downgrade a state’s status to Class A status if brucellosis is found in more than one herd of cattle within a two-year period.
The Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) houses the last known reservoir of brucellosis in the United States. In May 2007 and June 2008, brucellosis was discovered in cattle herds within the GYA of Montana, resulting in the downgrade of Montana to Class A status. On July 10, 2009, Montana regained Class Free status.
In order to mitigate the risk of Brucellosis in cattle herds, on January 13, 2010 the Montana Department of Livestock Animal Health Division ordered surveillance requirements for Brucellosis and established a Designated Surveillance Area (DSA).