Texas animal health officials have quarantined a West Texas dairy herd since April and slaughtered several cattle from the herd that tested positive for tuberculosis.
Dr. Bob Hillman, executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission, said an Iowa lab confirmed the cattle TB bacteria but officials have not identified the source of the tuberculosis.
It is the first time in nearly three years that TB has been found in Texas cattle but the location of the herd was not disclosed, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
The Texas Association of Diarymen says there is no public health concern from the detection since milk from commercial dairies is pasteurized, killing bacteria with heat.
Kentucky has imposed restrictions on livestock imports from Texas and Nebraska because of concerns about tuberculosis outbreaks in cattle in those states.
State Veterinarian Robert C. Stout announced the restrictions on Tuesday.
Stout said the best way to prevent the spread of the disease into Kentucky cattle is to prevent it from reaching the state.
The restrictions require that livestock from Nebraska and Texas test negative for tuberculosis within 60 days of shipping.
