Anthrax

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Anthrax

• By Amanda White

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What is Anthrax?

• Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by
  the spore forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis.
  Anthrax most commonly occurs in the wild and
  domestic lower vertebrates, but it can also occur
  in humans when they are exposed to infected
  animals or tissue from infected animals.
• www.cdc.gov

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Who does Anthrax Affect?

• Is one of the oldest recorded diseases of grazing
  animals such as sheep and cattle
• Anthrax mainly affects humans by animal hides,
  fur, wool, leather, or contaminated soil

• Anthrax also affects goats, camels, wild buffalo,
  antelopes, and humans

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Signs and Symptoms

• Cutaneous Skin infections, Itchy raised bumps,
  Painless ulcer, Swollen lymph glands, and then
  death
• Inhalation Symptoms of the common cold, severe
  breathing problems, shock, and then death
• Intestinal Nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting,
  fever, abdominal pain, vomiting blood, and
  diarrhea and then death
• www.cdc.gov

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Where is Anthrax Found?

• Anthrax can be found globally
• South and Central America
• Southern and Eastern Europe
• Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East

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Exposure

• Occupational exposure to infected animals and
  their products is one of the most common ways to
  get Anthrax.
• People who have a farm and have grazing animals
  is where Anthrax is more common

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How it is Diagnosed?

• Anthrax is diagnosed by isolation B anthracis
  from skin lesions
• Respiratory secretions
• Measuring specific antibodies in the blood

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Treatment

• Effective treatment of people can be accomplished
  by a through wash down with anti microbe soap
  and water only if caught in the early stages
• Large doses of intravenous and oral antibiotics

• If Anthrax is not caught within the early stages
  the symptoms can be fatal
• If death occurs the body should be isolated to
  prevent the spread of the Anthrax germ
• Burial does not kill the anthrax germ
• Wikipedia

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Anthrax Vaccine

• The vaccine consist of 3 injections given 2 weeks
  apart
• Then 3 additional injections given 6, 12, and 18
  months
• Annual booster injections of the vaccine are
  recommended thereafter

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Prevention of Anthrax

• In countries where Anthrax is common and
  vaccination levels of animals herds are low,
  humans should avoid contact with livestock and
  animal products and avoid eating meat that has
  not been properly slaughter and cooked.
• Wikipedia

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History

• Before the last century Anthrax infections
  were a source of many thousands of dead animals
  and thousands of people dying in Europe, Asia,
  and in North America
• There are 89 known strains of Anthrax, the
  most widely recognized being the strain used in
  the 2001 Anthrax attack on the United States

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References

• www.wikipedia.com
• Our Biology book
• www.cdc.gov