Livestock disease found in elk southeast of Dillon

Blood tests on elk captured southeast of Dillon found five animals exposed to brucellosis in an area where the livestock disease previously was unknown. The test results were released Thursday as part of a long-term study of brucellosis and elk by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists. Eradicated elsewhere in the country, brucellosis persists in wildlife in the region around Yellowstone National Park. The disease can spread to cattle and cause infected pregnant animals to miscarry. Last year, brucellosis found in elk in the Ruby Range prompted an expansion of a special disease zone where ranchers face increased testing and vaccine requirements. But state veterinarian Marty Zaluski says no cattle spend winter where the latest infections were found. That means the state may not expand the disease zone.