A state of emergency has been declared at a farm in Russia's southern republic of Kalmykia over an anthrax outbreak, the regional emergencies department reported on Sunday.
Anthrax was detected in the meat of a cow that had been culled on suspicion of the disease at the livestock farm in the Gorodovikovsky district of Kalmykia. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the anthrax virus, the emergencies department said.
Overall, 512 head of livestock, 256 head of small cattle, 21 horses and 64 pigs have been vaccinated to contain the spread of the anthrax outbreak in the district, the emergencies department said.
Anthrax most commonly infects wild mammals and domestic cattle and sheep, which ingest or inhale the spores while grazing. Humans can be affected when exposed to blood and other tissues from infected animals.
Anthrax can be highly lethal, but in some forms it responds well to antibiotic treatment and there are effective vaccines against the disease.
MOSCOW, January 2 (RIA Novosti)
