March 8, 2017
Biosecurity Queensland has quarantined a property at St George following the death of about 80 cattle from anthrax.
Chief Biosecurity Officer Dr Jim Thompson said anthrax was a naturally occurring bacterium that appeared sporadically in Australia, with a small number of cases each year.
“The last incidence of anthrax in Queensland, which occurred in 2002, was successfully contained,” he said.
This involved related properties at Dirranbandi and Wandoan and at the time was described as only the third outbreak of the disease in Queensland.
“In this latest case, the property owner reported that approximately 80 cattle had died in a short period of time,” Dr Thompson said.
“A veterinarian attending the property on Friday took samples from the dead animals and sent them to Biosecurity Queensland for testing.
“We commend the veterinarian and property owner for their quick response that will assist us in minimising the risk to the local industry.
“We have put in place biosecurity orders to restrict the movement of people, stock and vehicles on and off the infected property, and will commence a vaccination program for the remaining cattle and a disposal and decontamination program for the deceased animals.
“Remaining stock have been mustered out to separate them from the contaminated area.
“It’s believed the cattle deaths were caused by the disturbance of contaminated soil, followed by rainfall that distributed the soil containing the bacteria.”
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Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the risk of human exposure to anthrax from animals was generally regarded as very low.
“Public health authorities are in contact with people on the property and the veterinarian,” Dr Young said.
“The veterinarian used appropriate personal protective equipment and eight people, including family and a farm worker, did not have any contact with the dead animals.”
Producers are urged to report any cases of unexplained deaths of animals to Biosecurity Queensland on 13-25-23.
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The Queensland incident has coincided with an outbreak of the disease at a sheep property near Swan Hill in Victoria.
Animal health specialists were called to the property after a number of sheep died suddenly.
Victoria’s chief veterinary officer Charles Milne said 33 animals had died but testing for anthrax was not possible on all the carcases.
Anthrax is a bacterial disease of animals. It is most common in NSW, but has occurred sporadically in Victoria and Western Australia.
Before the 2002 Queensland incident, the last recorded outbreak of anthrax in Queensland was near Shoalwater in 1994.
