Anthrax disease kills cattle in Gerlach

GERLACH - An outbreak of anthrax has killed about 30 head of cattle at a ranch north of Gerlach.

Tests confirmed the cattle that died over the past week were infected with a pure strain of the deadly disease, the Nevada Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday..

Officials believe the outbreak orginated during a recent ditch clearning effort that released the soil-borne spores onto pasture grasses.

Anthrax is highly contagious and other ranchers in the area were being encouraged to vaccinate their livestock.