A cow in a farm in central Ukraine's Cherkassy region has been found infected with anthrax, emergency authorities said. "At least 12 people had contact with the sick cattle. Currently, they are under medical supervision, receiving preventive treatment," Xinhua quoted the Emergencies Ministry as saying in a report. Farmers had to kill the cow, whose body was burnt to prevent infection spread, it said. Veterinary and health workers were trying to find out the sources and routes of the infection, the ministry said, adding that specialists had taken a number of sanitary-hygienic measures at the farm in Makeevka village. Over the past 18 years, outbreaks of anthrax occurred in Ukraine's southern and central regions. A total of 65 people were infected, and three of them died. Anthrax commonly infects all warm-blooded animals, in particular cattle. Humans can catch anthrax by a direct contact with infected animal or eating contaminated meat.
