CHARLEVOIX COUNTY — The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced on Feb. 20, 2026, the detection of bovine tuberculosis in a dairy herd in Charlevoix County. The case was identified after an adult cow tested positive at a processing plant inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service.
Charlevoix County is located west of Michigan’s Modified Accredited Zone, which is an area where bovine tuberculosis is known to be present in the white-tailed deer population. Bovine tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that can affect all mammals, including humans and can be transmitted between deer and cattle.
Following the initial detection at the processing plant, officials traced the animal back to its herd of origin. Subsequent testing of the entire herd revealed additional cases of bovine tuberculosis.
Nora Wineland, state veterinarian, said the discovery of the affected herd demonstrates that Michigan’s monitoring systems are functioning as intended. “This latest detection of bovine TB highlights two important realities: how challenging the disease is to address; and why it is so crucial to use all of our tools for detection to swiftly identify cases and take actions to limit disease spread,” Wineland said. She noted that finding the cases early allows the state to quickly implement measures to protect both animal and public health.
An epidemiological investigation is currently underway to determine if other cases have stemmed from this specific herd. State and federal agencies are conducting this work to rule out further spread of the bacteria.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and other federal agencies use several tools to manage bovine tuberculosis within the Modified Accredited Zone. These programs include routine surveillance testing of cattle herds, mandatory animal identification, required movement certificates and wildlife biosecurity initiatives.
State officials also identified deer hunting in the northeastern Lower Peninsula as a method to combat the disease. MDARD stated that hunting continues to be an important tool in maintaining healthy deer and cattle populations by managing the wildlife that can transmit the bacteria.
The epidemiological investigation will continue to search for any additional cases related to the Charlevoix County herd. More information regarding the disease and state surveillance can be found on the MDARD website.