A dairy cow has died from anthrax disease near Tatura in northern Victoria, the state's chief veterinary officer has confirmed.
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The dead cow has been incinerated and the farm placed under quarantine in a bid to isolate any outbreak.
The bacterial disease, which lives in the soil, has been in Australia for 150 years, and although it is rare is does cause occasional livestock deaths.
Most recent cases have arisen in the dairy farming region of Victoria's Goulburn Valley.
Chief veterinary officer Dr Charles Milne said the farm where the cow contracted the disease had a history of anthrax.
"It is not unusual for incidents of anthrax, especially on previously infected farms, to be detected in this region," Dr Milne said.
"Stock on adjoining farms are also being vaccinated."
It is understood cows on six neighbouring farms are being vaccinated as a precaution.
Dr Milne has warned farmers that other sporadic cases could arise in Victoria.
Incidents of anthrax generally occur during the warmer months when it is drier and the livestock forage closer to the soil when eating grass The last isolated outbreak occurred in 2009.
In 2007, 34 cattle died on eight properties from the disease at Tatura and Stanhope. A mass vaccination program of 32,000 cattle in northern Victoria was ordered soon after the outbreak.
Anthrax and the vaccination against it do not pose any threat to meat or milk, Dr Milne said.
Farmers in the region are advised to check their paddocks for sudden, unexplained deaths among their animals and report any cases to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Diseases Hotline on 1800 675 888, or to their local vet.
