Anthrax (anthrax) is caused by bacteria Bacillus anthracis and affects many species of mammals, mainly herbivores (cattle, sheep, goats and horses) and some birds. It is a zoonotic disease: in very rare cases, it can be transmitted to humans.
The bacterium is present in soils as a spore that can survive for decades. The spores can rise to the surface in particular during climatic episodes of drought followed by abundant precipitation, and also after earthworks. They thus contaminate grass and fodder plants ingested by animals.
Its importance lies in the rapid and sudden mortality that occurs in affected herds, in its ability to persist and resurge from old foci, and in the possibility of transmission to humans by infected animals or their products.
If the antibiotics work, the vaccine is the most effective way to limit the spread in animals.
The regulations require that all suspicions of animal anthrax be declared to the prefectural authorities and be the subject of samples sent to the laboratory for analysis.
ANSES, via its animal health laboratory in Maisons-Alfort, holds the mandate as the national reference laboratory for anthrax. It systematically intervenes to confirm all suspected cases of animal anthrax. In addition, ANSES’s Nancy hydrology laboratory carries out analyzes on drinking or leisure water at the request of the health authorities.
> Anthrax: several outbreaks declared in the Hautes-Alpes (PDF) (on the website of the animal health epidemiological surveillance platform)