Updated Sat. Jul. 22 2006 11:36 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Saskatechewan is suffering the most widespread anthrax outbreak in the province's history, and dozens of farms are under quarantine.

Black smoke could be seen rising from various farms this week, as infected animals were burned.

"This is all new to us around here," farmer Lloyd Haugerud told CTV News. "We never knew it would happen here."

Haugerud has burned at least 12 of his cows because of the outbreak.

The anthrax spores had laid dormant in the soil for decades, possibly centuries, until a wet spring saturated the ground and brought them to the surface.

"We recognize that the spores for anthrax can be buried almost anywhere across the west, and in the prairies in particular," said Dr. Sandra Stephens of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Anthrax is a spore-producing bacterium, and the spores are able to spread easily and can be inhaled. But the disease cannot spread from person to person.

Cases of anthrax in livestock also pose a low risk to people, but if spores enter broken skin they can cause infections.

Eating meat contaminated with anthrax can cause stomach infections, but no infected animals recently entered the food chain, according to CFIA.

So far, the disease is responsible for more than 200 dead animals in the province. At least Thirty-six premises are under quarantine.

"We have cattle, horses, sheep, as well as some bison and white tailed deer that are involved," said Stephens.

The outbreak is another blow for farmers and cattle producers, still recovering from the mad cow crisis.

"They were just coming up in price. Now they are all dying," said Haugerud.

Local communities are also feeling the effects, as some county fairs and livestock shows have been cancelled. Farmers have been told not to display their animals.

"It hurts their pocket books, and it's going to hurt ours, too, likely," said George Bell-Chamber of the Nipawin Exhibition.

Officials said the outbreak could last well into August, or even September. They are urging all farmers to vaccinate their animals against the disease.

So far, about 8,000 animals have been vaccinated. Livestock in farms around infected areas are being vaccinated to create buffer zones, to stop the spread of anthrax.

Quarantines are removed 21 days after the last infected case.

With a report by CTV's Jill Macyshon

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