Anthrax is spread when bacterial spores are inhaled, ingested or come into contact with skin lesions.
ADVERTISEMENT
“An isolated case of anthrax in a cow has been confirmed at a farm in the Westbury area of Wiltshire following the death of a cow at the end of last week,” Public Health England said in a statement.
Several agencies, including the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), were involved in dealing with the case and the authorities say the animal’s carcase has now been incinerated.
“The risk of infection in close human contacts of the animal is very low, and we are in touch with any potential contacts to offer public health advice,” said Mike Wade, deputy director of health protection for Public Health England South West.
ADVERTISEMENT
Movement restrictions are in place at the affected farm, with all cattle prevented from entering the food chain. A local public footpath has also been closed.
Public Health England describes anthrax as a notifiable “bacterial disease which primarily affects herbivorous animals, although all mammals are susceptible to infection”, including humans. The last outbreak in livestock in Britain was in 2006.
The agency adds that the disease can kill cattle and sheep quickly, with or without causing the following clinical signs:
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
“An isolated case of anthrax in a cow has been confirmed at a farm in the Westbury area of Wiltshire following the death of a cow at the end of last week,” Public Health England said in a statement.
Several agencies, including the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), were involved in dealing with the case and the authorities say the animal’s carcase has now been incinerated.
“The risk of infection in close human contacts of the animal is very low, and we are in touch with any potential contacts to offer public health advice,” said Mike Wade, deputy director of health protection for Public Health England South West.
Movement restrictions are in place at the affected farm, with all cattle prevented from entering the food chain. A local public footpath has also been closed.
Public Health England describes anthrax as a notifiable “bacterial disease which primarily affects herbivorous animals, although all mammals are susceptible to infection”, including humans. The last outbreak in livestock in Britain was in 2006.
The agency adds that the disease can kill cattle and sheep quickly, with or without causing the following clinical signs:
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS