At many meat and poultry slaughter facilities, State and Federal inspectors perform these inspections. For locally processed meat, a veterinarian or skilled butcher can be helpful in identifying diseased animals that should not be processed and consumed. If suspicious cases are observed, producers need to contact their veterinarian immediately. This is a cell-free filtrate vaccine, meaning that it contains no dead or live bacteria. Vaccination may be part of a treatment regimen for individuals exposed to B. anthracis.
Anthrax is a reportable disease in Minnesota.
MBAH veterinarians investigate all anthrax outbreaks and assist local practitioners in carrying out the MBAH rules. When B. anthracis is exposed to oxygen, the organism transforms to a spore. Spores are resistant to temperature extremes, chemical disinfectants and desiccation. Animals that have died from anthrax should not be opened and under the supervision of a MBAH veterinarian should be burned. Anthrax carcasses cannot be moved over public highways.