Defra has imposed movement restrictions on the farm, and the animal’s carcass has been incinerated.
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“An isolated case of anthrax in a cow has been confirmed at a farm in the Westbury area… following the death of a cow at the end of last week”, the local authority, Wiltshire Council, said in a statement.
A second cow from the same herd has died and samples taken show evidence of anthrax infection.
The spokesman played down the risk of the disease spreading to humans.
“It is in the same farm, with the same herd from the same pasture, so it is not unexpected”, said a spokesperson from the APHA.
“The risk of infection in close human contacts of the animal is very low, and partners are in touch with any potential contacts to offer public health advice however there are no risks to the wider community”, it added in the statement issued jointly with Public Health England, a government-sponsored agency.
“We continue to work with our colleagues at Defra, the Environment Agency and Apha to investigate this case and closely monitor the welfare of the animals”.
FARMERS are being reassured by NFU officials after an outbreak of anthrax was confirmed at a farm in Westbury.
The risk to humans is “very low” according to Public Health England and a public footpath from Cutteridge on the edge of Dilton Marsh to Brook Farm remains closed as a precaution, with no cattle from the field entering the food chain.
Anthrax is rare bacterial disease which infects cattle, pigs, horses, sheep, humans and a few species of birds.
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Sporadic cases have been confirmed over the decades, with the source believed to be an old tannery where hides infected with anthrax spores were once buried.
