The European Parliament,

–  having regard to Rule 133 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas anthrax is a disease caused by the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis;

B.  whereas it is a zoonotic infection which can be caught by most mammals, but which affects ruminants and humans worst of all;

C.  whereas, over the last few days, cases of anthrax have been detected in five farms on the Moselle (in France), where the authorities have begun vaccinating hundreds of animals, in particular sheep and cows;

D.  whereas 25 cows have died of the disease so far, even though all those animals had been given antibiotic treatment and vaccinations;

1.  Calls on the Commission to give the farmers and Member States affected by anthrax all the support it can;

2.  Calls on the Commission to support research and the development of more efficient medical treatments for all zoonotic infections;

3.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and to the Council and the Member States.