Anthrax in Spain (Extremadura)

14 Sep 2021

According to media (in Spanish), the Minister of Health of Extremadura on 10 September 2021 confirmed a case of anthrax in a person in the Don Benito-Villanueva de la Serena area. The person is receiving treatment and is not seriously ill. Recently, anthrax has been reported in farm animals in the same area.

Anthrax is a potentially severe infection. The anthrax germs (bacteria) can live in soil for decades. Anthrax infection usually only affects animals, but occasionally the infection can be transmitted from animals to people from:

• eating meat which has been contaminated by the bacteria
• breathing in bacteria in particles present in the air
• cuts or open wounds becoming infected with the bacteria

Advice to Travellers

Your risk of becoming exposed to anthrax when travelling is extremely low.

As a precaution, you should avoid contact with dead animals, animal carcasses and animal products such as souvenirs made from animal skins.

Vaccination against anthrax is not available or recommended for travellers.