Brucellosis Update
	January, 2000
		Brucellosis has been wiped out in 44 states, with Kansas being the latest to reach class "Free". Texas and five other states: Louisiana, South Dakota, Misouri, Oklahoma, and Florida, are Class "A", meaning that these states have not had 12 consecutive months without a case of the bacterial disease that can cause cows to abort, deliver weak calves or less milk.
		In some cases, diseased cattle may have no signs of disease, but are capable of spreading infection. Texas cattle sold within the state are not required to have a certificate of veterinary inspection, but a brucellosis test is required for sexually intact cattle 18 months of age or older, whether the animal(s) are sold through a market or by private treaty unless they are from a brucellosis certified-free herd.
			As of September 17, 1999 - Texas had six quarantined herds. A quarantined herd leads to testing all adjacent or "neighborhood" herds and tracing movement of cattle into and out of the infected herd. Counties with infected herds: Matagorda, Uvalde, Starr and Henderson (two herds). The sixth herd overlaps Culberson and Hudspeth counties in West Texas.
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