A fifth case of anthrax has been confirmed at a Swan Hill property.
Agriculture Victoria said the property had business links to the other properties where anthrax was found in the past month.
The department said there had been 28 deaths on the five infected properties, 20 of which had been confirmed by laboratory testing as anthrax and the other eight were awaiting results.
“A number of other deaths on these properties have been investigated, but in these cases anthrax had been ruled out as the cause of death,” Victoria’s chief veterinary officer Charles Milne told The Guardian.
Dr Milne said anthrax was a naturally occurring bacteria and had been identified in Victoria before.
He said infected cattle and sheep with anthrax may show signs of high fever.
Dr Milne said quarantine restrictions remained in place on the infected premises until 20 days after vaccination or 20 days after the last case of disease, whichever is the latter.
“For contiguous premises on which disease has not been confirmed but on which precautionary vaccination has occurred quarantine will be lifted 20 days post vaccination.”
Agriculture Victoria said 5851 sheep have been vaccinated to date, with a further 710 sheep to be vaccinated over the next week.
“We urge farmers and those working with livestock to be vigilant for anthrax,” Dr Milne said.
Any unexplained sudden deaths in livestock should be immediately reported to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888, to local veterinarians or to Agriculture Victoria animal health staff.
