The Washington State Veterinarian confirmed 19 cattle exhibited at the Puyallup Fair in the Dairy Barn Complex died of Malignant Catarrhal Fever.

No quarantine actions are warranted, as cattle do not spread the disease to other cattle or humans. The State Veterinarian, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State University Animal Disease Research Unit, and the Puyallup Fair are investigating the matter.

A total of 16 of the affected cattle were owned by FFA students who were participating in the fair, and three of the cattle were fair demonstration animals.

MCF, which does not affect humans, is caused primarily by two different herpes viruses, one found in the wildebeest as a host and one found in sheep as the host. The latter is the virus in this instance, which kills the cattle. The host (sheep) is clinically unaffected by the infection with the virus, but serves as a source of infection for susceptible animals, such as cattle, deer, bison, water buffalo and pigs.

The Washington Department of Agriculture says MCF poses no threat to human health and cannot be transmitted between people and animals, nor is it contagious in cattle.

A large percentage of the veterinarians in the state have never even seen a MCF-related death. Dr. Leonard Eldridge, DVM, State Veterinary and his team are currently developing biosecurity practices to mitigate risk in the future.

The Puyallup Fair has been working closely with the State Veterinarian office once they were first notified, and sent a letter on Nov. 20 to related open class exhibitors outlining symptoms and the fact that it is not contagious between cattle, while FFA contacted chapter advisors. Two meetings have followed, with communication continuing with all involved.