OTTAWA - The quarantine of cattle in a western Canada bovine tuberculosis outbreak continues to grow, even as no new confirmed cases of the disease have been found.
Officials say, however, they are cautiously optimistic that the number of animals quarantined may have peaked.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says 26,000 animals are in quarantine, up from 22,000 last week.
The number of ranches affected has risen to 50, from 40 a week ago.
In late September, the agency discovered a cow with bovine TB linked to a ranch in Jenner, Alta.
After an investigation began, five other animals from the same herd tested positive for the illness.
