DNR STILL LOOKING FOR PSEUDORABIES
Thursday, April 24th, 2008 -- 12:19 PM
The DNR says it's still on the lookout for pseudorabies, one year after an outbreak at two farms in Clark County.There have been no new confirmed cases of the disease.
"There's always a threat of anything out there," says D-N-R wildlife biologist Michelle Windsor, "I think the threat has been minimized, but the threat still exists."
Another reason that the state has been pseudorabies free is that last year's outbreak helped raise awareness among farmers that the threat still exists.
"I think the farmers are trying to keep a healthy herd, both for their own livelihood and the well-being of their livestock," Windsor says.
Windsor says pseudorabies and other animal-born illnesses will remain a threat as long as there are wild animals.
"We still monitor, we still test. The DNR is actively pursuing any leads to remove non-native animals from the landscape," Windsor notes.
Last year's cases involved a herd of 300 swine near Greenwood and 27 more near Loyal. The cases were the first confirmed nationally in a commercial herd since 2003.
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