Victorian farmers are on alert following the death of a dairy cow from the bacterial disease anthrax
A farm in Victoria is under quarantine following the death of a cow from anthrax.
The dairy cow died from the bacterial disease at a property in Tatura, northern Victoria, a spokeswoman from the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources said.
The department’s chief vet, Charles Milne, said it was an isolated case on a farm with a history of anthrax, but further cases were possible.
The anthrax bacterium has been in Australia for 150 years and is known to occur in the soil in parts of Victoria, occasionally causing livestock deaths.
The property has been placed under temporary quarantine and stock have been vaccinated. Stock on adjoining farms are also being vaccinated.
“Farmers in the region should check their paddocks for sudden, unexplained deaths among their animals and report any cases to the 24-hour emergency animal diseases hotline … or to their local vet,” Milne said.
Anthrax is a bacterial disease that occurs sporadically in herbivores, such as cattle, sheep and goats.
It can also infect people if they handle products from infected animals or breathe in anthrax spores from infected animal products, but only 11 human cases were reported between 1977 and 2010, the Department of Health said. The spores can remain infectious for long periods.
The infected person is usually isolated in hospital as a precaution while they undergo treatment.
Source: The Guardian
