Two residents of a remote farmstead in Russia's North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan have been diagnosed with anthrax, a spokesman for the regional emergencies service told RIA Novosti.

"The patients are two men, born in 1957 and 1967. They are now in satisfactory condition," the source said.

The two men contracted the disease after eating an anthrax-infected sheep.

Four people also living at the farmstead have been vaccinated against the disease and received prevention treatment. Their health is now being monitored, and none developed symptoms so far.

All sheep at the farm have been quarantined for a month. No other cases of the disease have been detected.

Anthrax affects both wild mammals and domestic cattle that ingest or inhale the bacterial spores while grazing. Humans can contract the disease if they are exposed to the blood or tissue of infected animals. It can be highly lethal, but in some forms responds well to antibiotic treatment.

ROSTOV ON DON, August 28 (RIA Novosti)