Wyoming

Anthrax Outbreak In Wyoming Sparks Health Warning—Here’s What To Know

Published

1 week ago

September 5, 2024

Anthrax Outbreak In Wyoming Sparks Health Warning—Here’s What To Know

Topline

An outbreak of anthrax—a deadly bacterial disease feared as a potential bioweapon—among cattle and wildlife in Wyoming has killed dozens of animals, and health officials are urging people to take care as experts investigate what marks the first outbreak of its kind in the state in decades.

Dozens of cattle have died due to anthrax in Wyoming.

getty

Key Facts

The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory has confirmed a case of anthrax in a dead moose in Carbon County, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department said in a statement.

The discovery marks the first time the deadly bacterial disease has been confirmed in wildlife in Wyoming in decades—the last case was reported in 1956—and the state agency said the moose is “the only documented case reported in wildlife at this time.”

Anthrax has also been found in nearby cattle in Carbon County, officials said, the first confirmed infections in Wyoming cattle since the 1970s.

The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory confirmed the diagnosis in late August and said anthrax had been found in cattle from multiple herds around the Elk Mountain region.

Wyoming State Veterinarian Hallie Hasel told Cowboy State Daily at least 50 cattle have died due to anthrax, warning that losses may climb as officials determine the full extent of the outbreak.

Hasel said the outbreak appears to be limited to a localized region at this time and the Wyoming’s Game and Fish Department said it “will continue to monitor the situation and assess impacts to wildlife.”

Does Anthrax Pose A Risk To Humans?

Though “human cases are rare,” Wyoming’s Game and Fish Department said “precautions are warranted” in light of the outbreak. To limit the risk of anthrax exposure, Wyoming officials advised hunters and the public to stay away from any dead cattle or wildlife they encounter, to avoid harvesting sick-looking animals and to avoid picking up any roadkill in the Elk Mountain area, as well as to wear gloves while field dressing or handling harvested animals. The agency also advised owners of dogs, horses and other pets to keep the animals away from any carcasses they might encounter and urged anyone encountering dead wildlife to take a note of its location and report the findings. Health experts and organizations recommend seeking medical attention if anthrax exposure is suspected and antibiotics can be given as a form of post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, to prevent anthrax from developing if symptoms haven’t developed.

Key Background

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can jump from animals to humans, and its discovery in both livestock and wildlife in Wyoming means there is a risk to humans. Human anthrax infections are relatively rare, especially in countries like the United States, but are serious and often rapidly fatal without prompt treatment with antibiotics. There are four types of anthrax—cutaneous, injection, inhalation and gastrointestinal—which occur when the bacteria enter through the skin, an injection, are breathed in or are eaten. More than 90% are cutaneous (skin) anthrax, which can happen after spores enter through cuts or grazes when handling infected animals or contaminated animal products like hides, wool or hair. It is considered the least dangerous form of anthrax and around a fifth of patients will still die without treatment. But almost all treated properly with antibiotics will survive with symptoms like itchy skin, blisters, sores and swelling appearing around the infection site around one to seven days after exposure. The antibiotics most commonly used to treat anthrax—ciprofloxacin and doxycycline—are readily available and widely used throughout medicine.

Tangent

While anthrax is an infectious disease, it is not contagious and does not spread between people or animals. Infections primarily occur in mammals—often wild and domestic herbivores like sheep, cows, goats and deer—as well as some bird species. It almost always arises following environmental exposure and the durable nature of the spores mean it is practically impossible to eliminate or control the threat of anthrax in a given area once it is established. These features, along with the ability to disperse it as an aerosol, also make anthrax an ideal candidate for biological warfare. It is well-documented that many countries have explored the possibility of weaponizing anthrax and while some have admitted developing weaponized strains, no country is known to have deployed any. Officials worry anthrax could be deployed by non-state actors like terrorist groups, such as through letter attacks, and the CDC says anthrax is “one of the biological agents most likely to be used” in a bioterrorist attack.

Surprising Fact

Experts appear to be discovering new ways anthrax can manifest in humans, though examples are exceedingly rare. Scientists and clinicians used to believe only cutaneous, inhalation and gastrointestinal anthrax were possible in humans, though they recently discovered a distinct form of anthrax among heroin-injecting drug users in northern Europe. Symptoms for injection anthrax are similar to cutaneous anthrax but can include an infection deep under the skin or in the muscle where the drug was injected, the CDC says, and it can spread faster through the body and be harder to recognize than the cutaneous form. The CDC also warns of another anthrax disease: welder’s anthrax. The agency said the “newly identified and rare disease… has been found in several people who are welders or metalworkers.” It can cause severe pneumonia and be fatal, the CDC said, urging welders or metalworkers who develop “fever and chills with sudden cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or coughing up blood, see a healthcare provider immediately.”

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BYU True Freshman RB Pokaiaua Haunga Made a Case for More Carries

Published

43 mins ago

September 15, 2024

Press Room

BYU True Freshman RB Pokaiaua Haunga Made a Case for More Carries

On Saturday night, BYU traveled to Laramie and took down the Wyoming Cowboys 34-14. The BYU offense was without its top two running backs in LJ Martin and Hinckley Ropati against the Cowboys. Without Martin and Ropati, BYU turned to junior running back Miles Davis in the starting lineup. BYU’s rushing attack struggled to get going with Davis in the backfield – Davis tallied just 15 yards on 8 carries.

After Davis, true freshmen Sione Moa and Pokaiaua Haunga got their first carries in a BYU uniform. Both freshmen showed flashes, but former Timpview standout and Polynesian Bowl All-Star Pokaiaua Haunga stood out most. Haunga tallied 35 rushing yards on just 5 attempts, averaging 7.0 yards per carry. That’s the highest per-carry average by any BYU running back in 2024 (minimum five carries). He also had one reception for 11 yards.

Haunga displayed a combination of vision and burst that, frankly, BYU has lacked since LJ Martin left the lineup. In the opinion of this author, he made a case to get more carries for BYU in the coming weeks while LJ Martin recovers from an ankle injury.

BYU relied on Jake Retzlaff to move the ball both through the air and on the ground against Wyoming. Retzlaff led BYU in rushing with 62 yards on 6 carries. While having a dual-threat quarterback is a nice luxury, that’s not sustainable. BYU’s offense won’t consistently score unless it can run the ball with its running backs.

That’s where Pokaiau Haunga enters the picture.

BYU kicks off conference play next week against Kansas State. The Cougars will need to move the ball on the ground to pull off the upset, at least enough to keep the defense honest. Haunga is BYU’s best bet unless LJ Martin is healthy. Whether he understands the playbook and is ready to be a three-down back remains to be seen, but the potential is there.

BYU was hoping to redshirt Haunga since he is a true freshman that is less than a year removed from missionary service. That’s out of the picture if Martin and Ropati are going to be out for an extended period of time.

BYU is 3-0 with an upcoming schedule that is more manageable than originally anticipated. The defense is doing its part. If the offense can put a few things together, the Cougars will have a chance to win more games than expected.

Through three games, there’s a weakness at running back that needs to be resolved. Pokaiaua Haunga looked like he could be the temporary solution to BYU’s problems while Martin nurses his ankle injury.

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Wyoming

BYU Football Cruises to Victory Over Wyoming

Published

8 hours ago

September 15, 2024

Press Room

BYU Football Cruises to Victory Over Wyoming

On Saturday night, BYU traveled to Laramie and took down the Wyoming Cowboys 34-14. The Cougars outgained the Cowboys 458-217, including 353 total yards of offense from Jake Retzlaff. BYU came into the game as a 9.5-point favorite. With the 20-point victory, BYU moved to 3-0 against the spread this season.

FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | BYU vs WYOMING pic.twitter.com/fkJDLsejyT
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 15, 2024

BYU’s offense got off to a quick start, quickly driving 50 yards down the field in seven plays before Retzlaff took a shot downfield to Kody Epps that was intercepted. The read was right – Epps had a step, but that ball was underthrown, culminating in another turnover from Jake Retzlaff.

Following a three-and-out from the Wyoming offense, BYU got the ball back and marched 44 yards for the score. Retzlaff found a wide open Keanu Hill for the 20-yard touchdown to give BYU a 7-0 lead.

.@BYUfootball strikes first on the road! pic.twitter.com/SK2s4QAq5J
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 15, 2024

After exchanging a few punts, the BYU offense took the field again and marched 74 yards in nine plays for the touchdown to take the 14-0 lead. Retzlaff found a wide open Kody Epps for the score.

.@BYUfootball extends their lead! pic.twitter.com/bReYH9NqWH
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 15, 2024

On the ensuing drive, Wyoming’s offense showed signs of life, marching 75 yards for the score to cut into BYU’s lead and make it 14-7.

Just before halftime, a 49-yard field goal from Will Ferrin put BYU ahead 17-7.

The second half kicked off with some fireworks. BYU wide receiver Keelan Marion took back the second half kickoff 100 yards for the touchdown. That was the first BYU kickoff return for a touchdown since Adam Hine took one back against Virginia in 2014. At that point, BYU had complete control of the game.

103-YARD KICKOFF RETURN TD FOR @BYUfootball! pic.twitter.com/d4lVvgfHnJ
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 15, 2024

A second field goal from Will Ferrin gave BYU a 27-7 lead with 09:42 remaining in the third quarter.

BYU’s last touchdown drive of the game was a 5 play, 77-yard drive that ended in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jake Retzlaff to Darius Lassiter. That throw, in this author’s opinion, was Jake Retzlaff’s best throw of the night. Retzlaff calmly evaded the rush, stepped up into the pocket, remained under control, and threw a strike to Lassiter for the score.

Jake Retzlaff have a day!@BYUfootball adds to their lead! pic.twitter.com/p39xI0F4yk
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 15, 2024
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Wyoming scored a late touchdown to cut into the lead and make it 34-14. Gerry Bohanon got the final drive for BYU, going 57 yards and running out the six minutes remaining on the game clock.

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Wyoming

What time, TV channel is BYU vs Wyoming football game on today? Free live stream, spread, odds

Published

16 hours ago

September 14, 2024

Press Room

What time, TV channel is BYU vs Wyoming football game on today? Free live stream, spread, odds

The BYU Cougars face the Wyoming Cowboys on the road while trying to stay unbeaten playing against a struggling, but very dangerous team. This game kicks off at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. MDT) on Saturday, September 14 with a live broadcast on CBS Sports Network, and streaming live on demand.

• WATCH: Wyoming vs. BYU football live for free with Fubo (free trial), with DirecTV Stream or see more streaming options below.

What TV channel is the BYU vs. Wyoming game on?

When: Kickoff takes place at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. MDT) on Saturday, September 14.

Where: War Memorial Stadium | Laramie, Wyoming

TV Channel: CBS Sports Network (CBSSN)

How to watch live stream online: If you don’t have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial). You can also watch with DirecTV Stream (free trial). If you already have cable, you can also watch this game live on CBS Sports Network with your cable or satellite provider login information.

What TV channel is CBS Sports Network on in my area?

You can find out more about which channel CBSSN is on in your area by using the channel finders here: Comcast Xfinity, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice.