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Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis and is highly lethal in its most virulent form. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic herbivores, but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals, tissue from infected animals, or high concentrations of anthrax spores. Still there are no case of people who got sick through contact with a diseased person. Anthrax means " coal" in Greek, and is used because victims develop black skin lesions.
Anthrax infection is rare but not remarkable in herbivores such as cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and antelopes. Anthrax can be found globally. It is more common in developing countries or countries without veterinary public health programs. Certain regions of the world ( South and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East) report more anthrax in animals than others.
When anthrax affects humans, it is usually due to an occupational exposure to infected animals or their products (such as skin and meat). Workers who are exposed to dead animals and animal products from countries where anthrax is more common may become infected with B. anthracis, and anthrax in wild livestock has occurred in the United States. Although many such workers are routinely exposed to significant levels of anthrax spores, most are not sufficiently exposed to develop symptoms.
Anthrax can enter the human body through the intestines, lungs (inhalation), or skin (cutaneous). Anthrax is non-contagious, and is unlikely to spread from person to person.
Pulmonary (pneumonic, respiratory, inhalation) anthrax infection initially presents with cold or flu-like symptoms for several days, followed by severe (and often fatal) respiratory problems. If not treated soon after exposure, before symptoms appear, inhalation infection is the most deadly, with a nearly 100% mortality rate. A lethal case of anthrax is reported to result from inhaling 10,000-20,000 spores. This form of the disease has also been known as Woolsorters' disease. Other routes have included the slicing up of animal horns for the manufacture of buttons, and handling bristles used for the manufacturing of brushes.
Gastrointestinal (gastroenteric) anthrax infection often presents with serious gastrointestinal difficulty, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. Untreated, intestinal infection results in a 25-60% death rate.
Cutaneous (skin) anthrax infection presents with a large, painless necrotic ulcer (beginning as an irritating and itchy skin lesion or blister which is dark in color, usually concentrated as a black dot, somewhat resembling bread mold) at the site of infection, forming about a week or two after exposure. Unlike bruises or most other lesions, cutaneous anthrax does not cause pain. Cutaneous infection is the least deadly; without treatment, approximately 20% of all skin infection cases are fatal. Treated cutaneous anthrax is rarely fatal.
Treatment for anthrax infections includes large doses of intravenous and oral antibiotics, such as penicillinPenicillin is a β-lactam antibiotic used in the treatment of bacterial infections caused by susceptible, usually Gram-positive, organisms. The name "penicillin" can either refer to several variants of penicillin available, or to the group of antibiot, ciprofloxacinCiprofloxacin is the generic international name for the synthetic antibiotic manufactured and sold by Bayer Pharmaceutical under the brand name Cipro (and other brand names in other markets, e. veterinary drugs), belonging to a group called fluoroquinolon, erythromycinErythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic which has an antimicrobial spectrum similar or slightly wider to that of penicillin, and is often used for people who have an allergy to penicillins. For respiratory tract infections, it has better coverage of atypic, and vancomycinVancomycin is an antibiotic used in the prophylaxis and treament of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. It is a branched tricyclic glycosylated nonribosomal peptide produced by the fermentation of the actinomycete bacteria Amycolatopsis orientali. For inhalation cases, antibiotic treatment is not very effective unless initiated within a day of exposure, before any symptoms appear. Antibiotic prophylaxisFor Prophylaxis a particular school of thought in chess pioneered by Tigran Petrosian, please refer to the article on Petrosian''. Prophylaxis refers to any medical or public health procedure whose purpose is to prevent, rather than treat or cure, disease is crucial in cases of pulmonary anthrax to save lives. Some antibiotic-resistant strains are known.
A vaccine, produced from one component of the toxin of a non-virulent strand, is also available. The vaccine must be given at least four weeks before exposure to anthrax; annual booster injections are required to maintain immunity.
The spores can be trapped with a simple HEPARequest for info: more details on the original HEPA filter HEPA is an acronym for "high efficiency particulate arresting". A HEPA filter (theoretically) can remove from the air at least 99. 97 of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any airborne particles wit or P100 filter. Anthrax as an airborne threat can be prevented with a full-face mask. Unbroken skin is decontaminated simply with soap and water.
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