http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=72659&pt=n
They were investigating whether the death of two cows at a farm in Rhondda Cynon Taff, south Wales, was linked to an outbreak which killed seven cattle 35 years ago.
Officials imposed safety restrictions on Ynys-Gau Farm, Gwaelod-y-Garth, near Cardiff, today.
She said: "We know that the spores can live in the ground for long periods of time so it is possible that it is linked to the seven cattle that died 35 years ago, but that in itself shows you that the spores can lie dormant and not cause problems for long periods of time."
She added: "If it is the same source of anthrax, something has disturbed it in recent weeks or months.
"That is what we are going to try and understand today, but we will keep restrictions in place until we are satisfied that we have the disease completely contained and that no other animals are going down with infection."
The carcasses of the cows with anthrax have been burnt on site and the ashes disposed of in secure conditions in accordance with the Anthrax Order 1991.
Carcasses from other cattle to die on the farm since April were incinerated and staff working at the incineration sites have been advised of health and safety procedures.
It is understood no animal from the farm entered the human food chain in the past year.
Anthrax is a rapid disease and an animal that contracted it would not be sent for slaughter because it would be obviously ill, the Welsh Assembly Government said.
It is highly infectious and contagious. Some animals may only have a mild reaction, but it is typically seen as an acute disease - especially in cattle - and often results in sudden death without any apparent symptoms.
Ante-mortem checks carried out by the Meat Hygiene Service provide an additional safeguard to the health status of meat going into the food chain.
The last case of the infection in Britain was in 2002 on a farm in Wrexham, north Wales.
Farming unions said there was no need for the public to be alarmed by the discovery of anthrax.
The Farmers` Union of Wales (FUW) said it was satisfied the Assembly Government had dealt with the incident swiftly.
FUW spokesman Alan Morris said: "It`s quite possible that the spores have lain dormant until now.
"And I think one of the things that`s being looked at is that they have been disturbed in some way, either by ploughing or building."
He said farmers would be concerned about the presence of the disease, but safety measures meant it was unlikely to spread to neighbouring farms.
"It`s bad news for farming, but it`s good news that the safety net has worked," he said.
"The fact that this was picked up as anthrax proves that the early-warning system works."
National Farmers` Union Cymru president Dai Davies said: "Any occurrence of anthrax is of great concern to us, but as far as this is concerned there seems to be a historic link to it."
Mr Davies added: "Historically there hasn`t been a major problem of anthrax spreading from one farm to another.
"Normally it has been isolated cases that the veterinary profession was able to cope with.
"It`s a sad situation for the farmer to find himself in.
"But from what we have been told it was beyond his control. If the farm has been affected from other sources, as we know here it has, it`s just unfortunate that his farm happened to be in the wrong place."
They were investigating whether the death of two cows at a farm in Rhondda Cynon Taff, south Wales, was linked to an outbreak which killed seven cattle 35 years ago.
Officials imposed safety restrictions on Ynys-Gau Farm, Gwaelod-y-Garth, near Cardiff, today.
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Wales`s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christianne Glossop told BBC Wales that apart from the two confirmed cases, tests showed four other cows that died on the farm did not have the disease.
She said: "We know that the spores can live in the ground for long periods of time so it is possible that it is linked to the seven cattle that died 35 years ago, but that in itself shows you that the spores can lie dormant and not cause problems for long periods of time."
She added: "If it is the same source of anthrax, something has disturbed it in recent weeks or months.
"That is what we are going to try and understand today, but we will keep restrictions in place until we are satisfied that we have the disease completely contained and that no other animals are going down with infection."
The carcasses of the cows with anthrax have been burnt on site and the ashes disposed of in secure conditions in accordance with the Anthrax Order 1991.
Carcasses from other cattle to die on the farm since April were incinerated and staff working at the incineration sites have been advised of health and safety procedures.
It is understood no animal from the farm entered the human food chain in the past year.
Anthrax is a rapid disease and an animal that contracted it would not be sent for slaughter because it would be obviously ill, the Welsh Assembly Government said.
It is highly infectious and contagious. Some animals may only have a mild reaction, but it is typically seen as an acute disease - especially in cattle - and often results in sudden death without any apparent symptoms.
Ante-mortem checks carried out by the Meat Hygiene Service provide an additional safeguard to the health status of meat going into the food chain.
The last case of the infection in Britain was in 2002 on a farm in Wrexham, north Wales.
Farming unions said there was no need for the public to be alarmed by the discovery of anthrax.
The Farmers` Union of Wales (FUW) said it was satisfied the Assembly Government had dealt with the incident swiftly.
FUW spokesman Alan Morris said: "It`s quite possible that the spores have lain dormant until now.
"And I think one of the things that`s being looked at is that they have been disturbed in some way, either by ploughing or building."
He said farmers would be concerned about the presence of the disease, but safety measures meant it was unlikely to spread to neighbouring farms.
"It`s bad news for farming, but it`s good news that the safety net has worked," he said.
"The fact that this was picked up as anthrax proves that the early-warning system works."
National Farmers` Union Cymru president Dai Davies said: "Any occurrence of anthrax is of great concern to us, but as far as this is concerned there seems to be a historic link to it."
Mr Davies added: "Historically there hasn`t been a major problem of anthrax spreading from one farm to another.
"Normally it has been isolated cases that the veterinary profession was able to cope with.
"It`s a sad situation for the farmer to find himself in.
"But from what we have been told it was beyond his control. If the farm has been affected from other sources, as we know here it has, it`s just unfortunate that his farm happened to be in the wrong place."
