07/02/08

Idaho Department of Agriculture officials are investigating the possibility that dairy bulls imported to Idaho from California may have been exposed to bovine tuberculosis.

Bovine tb can affect both humans and animals; however US Department Of Agriculture officials say humans are at a very low risk of contracting the disease.

The majority of infected animals do not display any signs of the disease, and may be infected for years before there's any indication of tb.

Bovine tb is primarily transmitted to humans by consumption of raw - unpasteurized milk - or raw milk products containing the bacteria.

Bovine t-b does not pose a threat to the human food supply, because the bacteria that causes the disease is not found in meat. The pasteurizing process destroys any t-b bacteria in milk or milk products.