Bovine Tuberculosis

Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonotic bacterial infection that is spread between cattle, and occasionally other animals, and humans. The disease is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis, which is closely related to the bacteria that cause tuberculosis in humans. Bovine TB can cause serious economic losses for cattle farmers, and is one of the major animal health problems faced by cattle farmers. It is also a major public health concern due to the potential for transmission from animals to humans. Treatment and control of bTB mainly involves testing and, if necessary, culling infected animals and vaccinating herds. Infected herds must also be placed under movement restrictions until the disease has been fully eradicated. With proper precautions, the spread of bTB in cattle can be successfully controlled and eliminated.