New Delhi  - At least two people and dozens of cattle have died of anthrax in India's eastern state of Orissa while more than 20 people have fallen ill, a news report said Monday.

The disease, which usually affects cattle and spreads to humans through contaminated meat or occupational exposure, has gripped two villages in the tribal-dominated southern district of Koraput, about 700 kilometres south-west of the state capital, Bhubaneshwar, the IANS news agency reported.

Chief District Medical Officer BC Roy told the news agency that on May 26, a dozen cattle died of the disease in the Mantriput village. Five locals also contracted the disease and one of them died on Saturday, Roy said.

Earlier, 16 people contracted the disease after eating meat of affected cattle in another village, and a 41-year-old man died May 15 Roy said.

"We have sent a mobile health team to the region," Roy was quoted as saying. "The doctors are treating the affected people."

Five villagers had died of the disease in the same state in February. Anthrax is endemic in 18 of Orissa's 30 districts. It kills dozens of people in the state every year.

In its most common form, the bacterium causes an infection of the skin that results in black lesions and chills and rarely develops into blood poisoning and internal bleeding. In its pulmonary form, in which anthrax spores are inhaled, it causes pneumonia and is usually fatal. Its intestinal form, contracted by eating meat, causes acute inflammation of the intestinal tract, vomiting and severe diarrhoea. (dpa)