Anthrax found in cow in Wiltshire

The disease was found on a farm, in the Westbury area of Wiltshire, following the sudden death of the cow last week.

The beef cow, which did not produce milk, has been incinerated. Animals from the field where the cow grazed have not entered the human food chain and the farm has been cordoned off.

A nearby footpath has been closed and workers and animals at the farm are being monitored, with Public Health England (PHE) saying the risk to the public is “extremely low”.

PHE’s Mike Wade said: “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.”

Anthrax is a bacterial disease which mainly affects cows, pigs and horses, although all mammals are susceptible to infection. Human cases of anthrax are very rare, with the last occurring in 2008.

‘Swift action’

A Wiltshire Council spokeswoman said “swift action” was taken to deal with the risk, adding: “We know any risk is low; however, as you would expect, we are taking this very seriously and we will be doing everything in our power to support the national and local experts to keep Wiltshire safe.”

A spokesman for the National Farmers’ Union said: “It is unusual but not unheard of. Our sympathies are with the farmer concerned but there is no need for the public to be worried.”

The last case of the rare disease was almost 10 years ago on a beef farm in South Wales, where two cattle died. All sudden, unexplained deaths of cattle are investigated for anthrax.

Staring eyes

Cattle and sheep can die quickly from anthrax, but their carcasses may show no obvious signs of the disease. The main signs are high temperature, shivering or twitching, fits, bright, staring eyes and loss of appetite.

Unlike with foot and mouth disease, there is unlikely to be a cull due to the absence of direct transmission from cow to cow or cow to human.

Most people who have become ill from anthrax have worked with infected animals or animal products such as wool, hides or hair.

Thorough cooking of meat will destroy anthrax spores, but eating raw or undercooked meat from infected animals may lead to gastro-intestinal anthrax, although in the UK there are strict procedures in place before slaughter.