Anthrax threat, Vic farm in quarantine

A thousand sheep have been vaccinated against anthrax and a Victorian farm is in quarantine after a sheep was killed by the deadly bacterial infection.

Agriculture Victoria says it has quarantined a Swan Hill property after anthrax was identified on Friday.

There are no restrictions on people or vehicles moving on and off the farm, but no animals can be moved.

Agriculture Victoria said infections were common among cattle and sheep in that part of the state and the public was not at risk.

"The risk to the general public is negligible as you have to have very close contact with infected carcasses to have any risk - and even then the implications are relatively minor," Victoria's chief veterinary officer Charles Milne told AAP on Monday.

One animal on the farm has been confirmed as having anthrax and another 33 animals that died in recent weeks are suspected to have contracted the disease.

Their carcasses were burned as a precaution.

About 1100 sheep on the property have been vaccinated and all animals at properties bordering the affected farm have also been treated as a precaution, Dr Milne said.

A quarantine will be in place until the vaccine is takes effect.

Anthrax is a bacterial infection commonly found in the soil during hot, dry conditions, and it causes a rapid death once animals are affected.

There are very few symptoms before death, although in this latest case, the sheep had symptoms of acute pneumonia, Dr Milne said.

People from the affected farm have been offered testing and authorities say there is no impact on local produce or food safety.