Anthrax, a deadly animal disease used in biological warfare, is spreading in southern Italy, killing livestock on farms as far as 50 kilometers (31 miles) from where three outbreaks were reported a week ago. The illness killed cattle, sheep and horses on a further 10 farms southeast of Naples in the Basilicata and Campania regions, the Italian Ministry of Health said in an alert dated yesterday and published online by the Paris-based World Organization of Animal Health, or OIE.
Anthrax is caused by spores of the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which can survive in soil years after an outbreak and be brought to the surface by wet weather or deep tilling, the OIE says. Livestock typically become infected by ingesting spores from the soil or in feed, according to the group.
The disease killed livestock on five farms near the town of Corleto Perticara, three farms in the nearby village of Pietrapertosa and one in the town of Accettura, with the outbreaks ranging from between 30 to 50 kilometers northeast of last week’s, according to the notice.
taly also reported a new outbreak in Montesano sulla Marcellana, in addition to the two farms reported as infected previously. Last week’s notice also included a farm in Padula, about 10 kilometers northwest of Montesano.
In the 10 newly reported cases, anthrax killed a total of 12 cattle, 4 horses or donkeys and 10 sheep, the OIE said. Source
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