Anthrax kills cows in Sweden

Anthrax has killed 13 cows in a farm in the west of Sweden, according to the country's centre for infectious diseases.

The farm has been put into quarantine after vets confirmed fears the animals had died from anthrax on Friday, UPI.com reported.

It has not been confirmed how the cows got the disease, but early reports claim anthrax may have been uncovered in the soil.

Bengt Larsson of the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control told news agency TT: "It could be that the animals have been grazing in areas which have been dug up and where traces of dead animals infected with the bacteria remain."

Traces of anthrax can stay in soil for more than 50 years, he said.
Anthrax can be passed on to humans from animals, but this is rare.

All 70 animals at the farm in Varberg have been put into quarantine and trading has been banned.

Outbreaks of anthrax usually occur in herbivorous animals in areas where vaccination has been inadequate, according to the World Health Organization.

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