Anthrax sparks farm lockdown

A COW has died of anthrax at Tatura, in northern Victoria, and more cases are possible.

But authorities believe quarantine precautions will prevent a disease outbreak.

Chief vet Charles Milne, said yesterday the cow’s death was an isolated case on a farm with a history of anthrax, but more cases could occur.

“Farmers in the region should check their paddocks for sudden, unexplained deaths among their animals,” he said.

The affected property has been disinfected and locked down and the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources is monitoring the other cattle on the property.

Cattle on six neighbouring properties have been vaccinated and free vaccine is available to other farms in the area.

During a 20-day quarantine, cattle will not be allowed off the affected property, but milk production can continue.

Dairy Australia’s manager of animal health and welfare, Robin Condron, said anthrax was rare.

“We haven’t had a case for five years,” Mr Condron said.

“The vaccine is very efficient, and once the immunity is established there will be no further cases on that farm.”

The risk of anthrax being transmitted through milk was negligible, he said.

Dr Milne said farmers were not required to vaccinate livestock, but if they wished to do so, the cost to the farm was negligible.

“The cattle compensation fund collected from the industry will actually cover the cost of that vaccination,” he said.

The anthrax bacterium has been in Australia for 150 years and occurs in the soil in parts of Victoria.

During the last anthrax outbreak, in 2007, 34 cattle died in the Tatura area and a knackery worker was treated after contracting skin anthrax.