Anthrax

Actions that should be taken during an anthrax outbreak:

1. Properly dispose of animal carcasses by burning to prevent exposure to other animals, such as predators or dogs.  Remove healthy livestock from the area.
    

2. Vaccinate livestock if cases occur in the surrounding areas.  Because the anthrax vaccine is a “live” vaccine, it should not be administered concurrently with antibiotics. Vaccinated animals are to be withheld from slaughter for two months.
    

3. Restrict movement of livestock from an affected premise until animals can develop immunity through vaccination.

Two llama calves died 3 days after inoculation with anthrax vaccine. Concurrent administration of ivermectin and other biologics may have enhanced the infectivity of the Sterne strain vaccine of Bacillus anthracis. This experience suggests that the Sterne strain of anthrax vaccine can induce fatal disease when given to young llamas and should be used only with extreme care and in face of strong "at risk" situations.