HUMANS who came into contact with a cow which died of anthrax last week at a farm in Westbury are not showing any symptoms of the deadly disease.

The animal’s carcass has been incinerated and movement restrictions are in place at the farm after Public Health England confirmed the outbreak earlier today.

The bacterial disease, which primarily affects herbivorous animals, rarely affects humans with the last case confirmed in 2006.

A footpath 1.8km long which runs from Cutteridge on the edge of Dilton Marsh to Brook Farm has been closed as a precaution and it was confirmed that no cattle from the field have entered the food chain.

Maggie Rae, director of Public Health and Wiltshire Council corporate director, said today: “This situation in Westbury we have a historic link because we do have evidence that the last incident was 20 years ago when again a cow died and when it was tested it had anthrax.

“Obviously the most import thing we needed to do, which we did over the weekend, was have the cow incinerated and make sure it was disposed of safely.

“Anyone who was in contact with the cow, which was a limited number of people, we’ve just being observing them.

“There is quite a short period between exposure and illness, probably about 72 hours, and all those human contacts have shown no sign of the disease.

“The local people know where it [the footpath] is because the footpath is now closed.

“This is a precautionary action but it has been shut for more than 72 hours and we feel confident there has been no exposure.

“We haven’t found any evidence this has affected public rights of way or access.

“I think we just need to be open and transparent with the public and encourage people to go about their normal business.

“But we will be on site with our colleagues in the Environment Agency to make sure we are absolutely certain how this occurred and to make sure there is no ongoing risk to the population.”

In humans, anthrax can affect the skin and, rarely, the respiratory or gastro-intestinal tract.

It is caused by the aerobic bacillus, Bacillus anthracis, and is spread by spores. Spores can be found in animal products such as wool, hair, hides, skins, bones, bonemeal and in the carcasses of infected animals. The spores can also contaminate soil and may survive for many years.   

Mike Wade, deputy director of Health Protection for Public Health England South West, said: “We are aware of a confirmed case of anthrax disease in a cow in the Westbury area of Wiltshire.

“The risk of infection in close human contacts of the animal is very low, and we are in touch with any potential contacts to offer public health advice.”

The last case of the rare disease was almost 10 years ago on a beef farm in South Wales.

Two cows died on the farm in Rhondda Cynon Taf in April 2006. Before that, the last case seen in Britain was in 2002.

All sudden, unexplained deaths of cattle are investigated for anthrax, and hundreds of samples are examined each year.

Anthrax is a bacterial disease which can infect all mammals, including humans, but mainly affects livestock.

A spokesman for the National Farmers' Union said: "It is unusual but not unheard of. Our sympathies are with the farmer concerned but there is no need for the public to be worried.

"I'm not sure what farm it is but if they are an NFU member we'll offer them our support, obviously. The clean-up process has taken place so hopefully that'll be that."