February 21, 2006

Anthrax infected meat discovered in Moscow market

Anthrax germs that causes the foot-and-mouth disease in cattle were found in a Moscow market Monday, the Russian Agricultural Ministry said in a statement

The Moscow City Veterinary Laboratory found germs of Bacillus anthracis in the beef at the Kuntsevo market place. The market administration immediately imposed a quarantine on the market's products and the personnel of the company that had been trading the infected meat.

The beef was delivered to the Kuntsevo market in the northwest of Moscow with a veterinary certificate from Russky Pimbur, about 440 miles southeast of Moscow.

The meat raised suspicions about anthrax before it went on sale and was sent to a veterinary laboratory and tested positive for anthrax bacilli.

The market underwent disinfection and vaccination of livestock is currently under way in Russky Pimbur.