THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - One anthrax outbreak among bison in the NWT has been declared over, and it is as yet uncertain if a second outbreak even exists.

In this photo from an anthrax outbreak in 2006, a disposal crew prepares to burn the carcass of a bison killed by the disease on the Slave River Lowlands. - photo courtesy of Department of Environment and Natural Resources

The anthrax outbreak in the Slave River Lowlands, about 80 km southeast of Fort Resolution, was declared over on Aug. 10. Ella Stinson, a spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said the declaration was made following an aerial survey of the area on Aug. 9.

"There were no dead bison," she said.

Stinson said the final count of bison carcasses amounted to 45. All were burned during the course of the outbreak, which began in June. The last two carcasses, which were decomposing when discovered, were spotted on July 26. A dead moose was also spotted during the survey of Aug. 9. "But we don't know if it was due to anthrax or just natural causes," said Stinson, adding samples were taken and sent for testing.

The dead moose was found about 25 km south of the southernmost location of dead bison on the Slave River Lowlands, Stinson said. "It was relatively far away, which makes us think it probably wasn't (anthrax), but we did testing just to be sure."

Meanwhile, testing results have not yet been completed on samples from two dead bison found in Wood Buffalo National Park. The dead animals were discovered within a day of each other in late July off Highway 5, about 140 km northwest of Fort Smith. Samples were drawn and the carcasses were burned as a precaution. One other dead bison was later found in roughly the same area, but the carcass was estimated to be about three-and-a-half weeks old. That carcass was not tested, but it was also burned as a precaution.

Mike Keizer, external relations manager with the park, said recent cool and damp weather conditions are not conducive for an anthrax outbreak.

"We're pretty confident we're not going to see an outbreak this summer," he said.

The last anthrax outbreak in the park was in 2007. Bison contract the disease from spores in the ground while wallowing in dust.

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