The Washington State Department of Agriculture on Wednesday lifted its quarantine for a dairy involved in a case of bovine tuberculosis first reported January 17. The dairy, Juergens Brothers Dairy in Moses Lake, WA, was placed under quarantine by the agriculture department when a cow from the dairy tested positive for bovine tuberculosis (TB) after being sent to slaughter. After two rounds of negative tests on the remaining herd, state veterinarian Dr. Leonard Eldridge gave the green light to lift the quarantine. While the first screening returned 11 possible infections, further testing confirmed last week that no cows actually carried the bovine TB bacteria. State veterinary personnel have tested more than 2,600 animals in Washington and found no further sign of bovine TB. The  state Department of Agriculture will perform a follow-up round of testing at the dairy next year in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture protocols. The bacteria that causes bovine TB may transmit TB to humans on undercooked beef or in raw milk. WSDA officials assured the public that the case in Washington would not pose a health threat, as the cow’s meat never entered the food supply. Juergens Brothers Dairy pasteurizes all of its milk, virtually eliminating any risk of transmission. Under the quarantine, the dairy was prohibited from transporting its herd or bringing in new cattle. This was the first case of bovine TB detected in Washington State since 1988. The disease has nearly been eradicated from the U.S. since the federal government established a campaign against it in 1917. According to the WSDA, there are currently 34 retail raw milk dairies in Washington, and they must maintain their animals at a higher level of testing requirements to sell milk legally. Raw milk cows must annually test negative for Brucellosis, Tuberculosis, Q Fever, and a number of other diseases as required by the state veterinarian. New animals entering the herd must be tested within 30 days prior.