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what you need to know about antrax
Anthrax is a naturally occurring infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax occurs most commonly in wild and domestic animals such as (cattle, sheep, goats, camels, antelopes, and other herbivores), however it can also occur in humans who have contact with infected animals, their tissue, or blood. Centers for disease control and prevention http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax_g.htm There are 3 different types of Anthrax; they are Skin (cutaneous), Lungs (inhalation), and Digestive (gastrointestinal). Anthrax is classified by the CDC as a category A agent, category A agents are ones that pose the greatest threat toward the public, may expand over a large area, and need a great deal of planning to protect the public. In most cases Anthrax is treatable, however in 2001 when the United States Postal service was used to spread Anthrax over half of the infected people died. Although Anthrax has been developed in to a biological weapon the chances of contracting the disease still remain fairly low.
Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions where it occurs in animals, Anthrax can live in the soil for many years and when it affects humans it’s either by breathing in spores, getting spores on an open wound, or eating contaminated meat from an infected animal. Although when Anthrax affects humans it is usually caused by occupational exposure to infected animals or animal products from other countries this is known as B Anthracis (industrial anthrax) and it has occurred in wild animals within the United States. The risk of contracting Anthrax is extremely low, even following the events of 9/11 when it was intentionally introduced there were only 22 reported cases of infection. Anthrax is not known to travel from one person to another, so in order for Anthrax to work as a biological weapon it would have to be spread over a very large area.
Symptoms of Anthrax very because there are several different types, The average incubation period is 7 days but it can take up to 60 days or longer for symptoms to develop depending on how exposure occurred. Cutaneous Anthrax usually occurs when spores enter a cut or abrasion on the skin for example from handling contaminated wool, hides, leather, and hair products of infected animals. Skin infection begins as a small, raised bump that might itch, similar to an insect or spider bite. 1 To 2 days later the bump develops into a fluid filled blister which over the next 7 to 10 days turns into a dried black center surrounded by redness and swelling, however the blister usually remains painless. Some other symptoms might be swollen lymph nodes close to the area of the blister, fever, headache, and a general feeling of discomfort. Gastrointestinal Anthrax is more serious but there have never been any reported cases in the United States. This form of Anthrax usually occurs after eating meat contaminated with the bacteria that cause anthrax, and even though it is more deadly than Cutaneous Anthrax it is still treatable, however if untreated it can cause Ulcers at the base of the tongue or tonsils, sore throat, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fever followed by more sever symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting blood, and bloody diarrhea. Within 2 to 4 days fluid fills the abdomen; and shock and death usually follow within 2 to 5 days. The most lethal form of exposure occurs from Inhalation Anthrax which may incubate for 60 days or more but usually only takes 2 to 3 days to show symptoms such as sore throat, mild fever, and muscle aches. Symptoms can progress rapidly after just a few days to include trouble breathing, shock (which can develop rapidly), and meningitis which develops frequently. These respiratory symptoms may resemble pneumonia, or influenza except for these differences; shortness of breath and runny nose and can cause death within 24 for to 36 hours after symptoms occur. Once this form of the disease becomes sever it is very hard to treat and survival is unlikely.
to avoid infection in countries where Anthrax is common humans should avoid contact with livestock and animal products that have not been properly slaughtered and cooked. Vaccine is available, but only essential government and military personnel are given this vaccine, however if there were an outbreak of Anthrax plans are in place to get the infected the required medical attention. The vaccine is a cell-free filtrate vaccine, which means it contains no dead or live bacteria in the preparation, and Anthrax vaccines intended for animals should not be used in humans. The preferred method of treatment for Anthrax is antibiotics such as Doxycycline, Penicillin, Ampicillin, Cipro, and Gatifloxacin. Severely ill people may be given medications through IV treatment which can last several weeks.
Although Anthrax is naturally occurring the odds of catching it in the United States even from an animal are almost impossible, and even if infected as long as it is treated early people with cutaneous anthrax recover. Those with oropharyngeal or intestinal anthrax have a less favorable outcome but most recover, and people with inhalation anthrax have the worst outcomes, for example the victims of the 2001 anthrax attacks. The key to survival if infected is how early it is detected and how soon treatment begins.
References:
Centers for disease control and prevention http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax_g.htm Web MD
http://www.webmd.com/hw/cold_and_flu/ty6368.asp EMedicineHealth
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anthrax/page7_em.htm |
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