Descriptive Epidemiology of Detected Anthrax Outbreaks in Wild Wood Bison (Bison Bison Athabascae) in Northern Canada, 1962–2008

Between 1962 and 2008, anthrax outbreaks in wild wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) in Wood Buffalo National Park and the Slave River Lowlands resulted in 1,515 detected deaths, with an average of 126 carcasses per outbreak. Outbreaks lasted 16–44 days on average but were not randomly distributed; those starting in July caused more fatalities than those beginning in June. Males were disproportionately affected, and no clear spatial pattern emerged. The study suggests targeting bulls for surveillance and extending monitoring beyond three weeks post-outbreak detection to improve data accuracy. Inconsistent record-keeping historically hindered analysis, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts across jurisdictions.

Salb, A., Stephen, C., Ribble, C., & Elkin, B. (2014). DESCRIPTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DETECTED ANTHRAX OUTBREAKS IN WILD WOOD BISON (BISON BISON ATHABASCAE) IN NORTHERN CANADA, 1962–2008. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 50(3), 459–468. https://doi.org/10.7589/2013-04-095