Anthrax outbreak at dairy farms in Australia

Anthrax :: Anthrax outbreak at dairy farms in Australia

Anthrax has been found on a dairy farm at Tatura, east of the outbreak area at Stanhope in Victoria's Goulburn Valley in Australia.

The Department of Primary Industries has confirmed four more cattle have died from the bacterial disease. It brings the total number of cattle which have died from anthrax to 29 since it was first detected two weeks ago.

The Valley is a major Australian dairy producing region, and more than 10,000 cattle are being vaccinated against the anthrax disease.

Anthrax is an infectious, usually fatal disease of warm-blooded animals, especially of cattle and sheep, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The disease can be transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated animal substances, such as hair, feces, or hides, and is characterized by ulcerative skin lesions.

Australian health authorities need to consider measures to check the spread of anthrax to human beings.