St. Paul, MN (MinnesotaNow) – Nine people are receiving treatments for rabies after testing confirmed that a cow at a southern Minnesota farm was infected with the rabies virus.
Rabies Confirmed in Brown County Cow
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health says the infected cow was part of a herd in Brown County. A news release says the owner noticed on September 1 that the heifer was behaving oddly, including lying flat with its head down.
9 People Treated For Possible Exposure
The state agency says a veterinarian observed the cow the same day, and the owner gave it oral medication using his bare hands. It was also reported that another veterinarian examined the cow the following day and also administered oral medication without wearing gloves.
Cow Humanely Euthanized
According to the Board of Animal Health, a third veterinarian examined the animal on September 3 and noted that it had “uncoordinated hind legs, was high-stepping, vocalizing, hyper salivating, and had a high temperature.” That’s when the cow was humanely euthanized, and the head was sent to the Minnesota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory for testing.
“When we see livestock acting strangely, rabies may not be the first thing people think of to explain the behavior,” said Dr. Steve Kivisto, senior veterinarian leading the rabies program at the Board. “Given the severity of the disease, it’s better to assume an animal is infected until proven otherwise, and to be sure to take the proper precautions and use the correct personal protective equipment when working with a rabies suspect animal.”
Children Among Those Possibly Exposed…