Committee hears state vet and producers on anthrax outbreak; board says guidance adopted, bill would formalize notification and protocol

The Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee took testimony on a bill focused on anthrax notifications and response (House Bill 90) and heard from the Wyoming Livestock Board, the state veterinarian and affected ranchers about an August anthrax outbreak.

What happened: Representative Davis introduced the matter, saying an anthrax outbreak in a county west of the legislature’s district was the first such event recorded in Wyoming in about 70 years. Director Steve True of the Wyoming Livestock Board and Dr. Halley Hazel, the state veterinarian, reported that the Board adopted anthrax guidance and an investigation protocol at its November 15 meeting and that the board’s protocols include notification and coordination steps with other agencies.

State guidance and investigation protocol

Dr. Hazel explained the board’s guidance was modeled on longtime anthrax protocols used in states that see anthrax more often (for example, parts of the Dakotas and Texas). The guidance documents provided to the committee include recommendations on vaccination (the single USDA-licensed livestock anthrax vaccine), an investigation checklist and a notification flow chart that lists state and local agencies to be notified in the event of a positive diagnosis.

The board’s November action

Director True said the board adopted the protocol and that the board notified the legislature of the adopted protocol, noting the board’s action satisfied part of the bill’s requirement to have an official protocol on file.

Producer testimony and concerns

Multiple producers affected by the outbreak testified. Joyce Minkie, a rancher who said she contracted cutaneous (skin) anthrax after handling animal samples, asked lawmakers to require vaccination in movement rules for animals entering the area and to make protocols enforceable. Minkie described delayed diagnosis early in the outbreak and said that public-health and wildlife interactions complicate response. Other witnesses described large fly populations and multiple ranches with dead livestock during the outbreak; some asked for clearer state guidance on disposal and for compensation or assistance paths when producers lose animals.

What the committee did and did not do

Committee members asked technical questions about notification, interagency coordination (Game and Fish, Department of Health) and public outreach. The Livestock Board and state veterinarian said they had consulted Game and Fish and the Department of Health and had incorporated comments where relevant. The committee did not record a final vote on House Bill 90 during the hearing session and left the record open for public testimony.

Ending

The committee received the board’s adopted protocol and substantial producer testimony requesting stronger, enforceable measures for future outbreaks. The committee discussion indicated interest in ensuring the protocol is clear to producers, Game and Fish and public-health authorities; further legal or statutory changes were left to the committee’s later decisions.