APHIS Factsheet

Veterinary Services April 2008

Questions and Answers: 

Malignant Catarrhal 

Fever

On April 17, 2008, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the presence of the 

wildebeest type of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in 

a heifer recently purchased from a mixed-use operation in Texas that died showing clinical signs of the 

disease.

Q. What is MCF?

A. MCF is a disease caused by a herpesvirus, and 

two types of herpesvirus are known to cause the 

disease—a sheep-associated type and a wildebeestassociated type. These animals carry the disease 

asymptomatically. Cattle can contract both types of 

the disease; both types cause high fatality rates in 

cattle. 

Q. What is a mixed-use operation?

A. A mixed use operation keeps animals for a 

number of purposes that can include, breeding, 

hunting, and exhibition. 

Q. Does MCF affect human health?

A. MCF poses no threat to human health. 

Q. Have the affected animals entered into the food 

chain?

A. The suspect cattle from the herd of origin were for 

breeding purposes and the information gathered thus 

far in the investigation confirms that they have not 

entered the food chain. Even if infected animals were 

to enter into the food chain, MCF poses no threat to 

human health and cannot be transmitted to people.

Q. Does MCF spread among cattle?

A. No. MCF is not a contagious disease in cattle. 

Infected cows can, however, pass the virus to their 

offspring.

Q. Can MCF affect animals other than cattle and 

wildebeest?

A. In addition to cattle and wildebeest, MCF can 

affect deer and elk. The disease has been found previously in domestic pigs, giraffes, and certain species 

of antelopes. 

Q. How did the cattle get the disease?

A. The disease appears to have spread to the cattle 

on the mixed-use operation in Texas from exposure to 

captive wildebeests on the same property. 

Q. Is USDA tracing the affected animals?

A. USDA foreign animal disease diagnosticians and 

State animal health officials are conducting an epidemiological investigation. Part of the investigation is the 

tracing of all sale records associated with the affected 

animals from the mixed-use operation in Texas. 

 

Q. Does USDA know where the cattle were 

shipped?

A. USDA has confirmed that approximately 130 

breeding heifers from the affected herd have been 

shipped to Illinois, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, 

Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Because cattle do 

not transmit the disease, the interstate movement of 

the cattle does not pose a risk for dissemination of the 

disease.

Q. How do you know that disease is not more 

widespread—is it possible that other animals have 

been affected?

A. Texas animal health officials have placed a 

quarantine on the entire mixed-use operation to 

prevent any further movement. Additionally, USDA’s 

foreign animal disease diagnosticians and State 

animal health officials are conducting an epidemiological investigation that will help determine which 

animals on the operation may have been exposed 

to the wildebeest virus. Information on any previous 

movement of exposed animals from the mixed-use 

operation in Texas will be provided to affected States 

as it becomes available. Because cattle do not transmit the disease, the interstate movement of the cattle 

does not pose a risk for dissemination of the disease.

Q. What is going to happen to the affected cattle?

A. State officials have placed all of the cattle from the 

herd on hold. USDA is working with the States and 

owners to depopulate the heifers. The owners will 

receive indemnity for the loss of their animals.

Q. If MCF can’t spread between cattle, why would 

the exposed heifers be depopulated?

A. While MCF does not spread among cattle, it can 

decrease the value of the cattle and cause economic 

losses to the farmers. Moreover, exposed cattle can 

test negative for the disease and then fall ill and test 
United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, 

national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital 

status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, 

genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part 

of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance 

program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons 

with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) 

should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice 

and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, 

Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. , 

Washington , D.C. 20250–9410 , or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or 

(202) 720–6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 

employer. 

positive later in life. The disease can also pass from a 

cow to its offspring.

Q. Has there ever been a case of MCF in the United 

States? 

A. There have been isolated incidents of wildebeestassociated MCF involving zoo animals dating back to 

the 1970’s and one case involving a domestic cow in 

1994. The sheep-associated disease is considered 

endemic, or occurs commonly, in the United States.

Q. Will the detection of MCF affect this country’s 

trading status?

A. Wildebeest-associated MCF is not classified as 

a disease that has the potential for serious, rapid 

spread, or public health consequences. While it is 

a reportable animal disease under World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines, OIE does not 

recommend any actions based on MCF.

Q. Why does the OIE require reporting of MCF?

A. The OIE requires member nations to report any 

occurrence of certain transmissible animal diseases 

in order to successfully monitor animal health on a 

worldwide bases.