"You sound like you have a cold," my grandpa said over the phone. "Yeah, I have had it for almost two months now but it seems to be getting better," I replied. "Gee, I hope it's not Anthrax!" he darted back at me without hesitation. After the routine small talk I hung up the phone since my mom was not home to talk to him. I thought to myself, "He is loosing it worse than I thought! Anthrax is only found in livestock." I told my mom he called and about the laugh I had but then she informed me that livestock was the most common carriers but not the only. After that incident, I started to ponder about this deadly disease. Is it a disease?.
To start, all I knew to be true about Anthrax is that it can kill people and that the vaccine is not available to the general public. After searching on the Internet for information I found the most common definition for Anthrax to be this: Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus Anthracis. The three parts of that bacterium are edema toxin, lethal toxin, and a capsular antigen. To me, this means nothing. It doesn't tell me how to avoid getting Anthrax or how it can be contracted. After reading deeper into it, I discovered that there are three major clinical forms: cutaneous, inhalation, and gastrointestinal. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Cutaneous Anthrax is the most common naturally occurring type of infection and usually occurs after skin contact with contaminated meat, wool, hides, or leather from infected animals. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) It seems strange to me that this is the most common because meats have to be approved before being put on the shelves of stores.
Inhalation Anthrax is the most lethal form of Anthrax. The spores must be aerosolized (to disperse as an aerosol) in order to cause this type. The studies aren't too sure of how long it takes for the incubation process but it is suspected to be between one and seven days but could even take up to 60 days.
Cutaneous Anthrax account! ... The Anthrax disease has a long history with mankind. ... The Huns in 80 AD described Anthrax as a killer. ... The greatest threat with the most deadly consequences is pulmonary anthrax, which starts with inhalation of anthrax spores. ... The anthrax death rate is 80% when inhaled. ...
The one question was who is responsible for these anthrax attacks? ... The second and most fatal form is Inhalation anthrax. ... There are very few treatments for this type of anthrax. ... The third form is called Intestinal anthrax. ... After September 11th many people lost their lives to anthrax. ...
The one question was who is responsible for these anthrax attacks? ... The second and most fatal form is Inhalation anthrax. ... There are very few treatments for this type of anthrax. ... The third form is called Intestinal anthrax. ... After September 11th many people lost their lives to anthrax. ...
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium called Bacillus Anthrax. ... About twenty % of untreated cases of cutaneous anthrax will eventually result in death. ... Anthrax comes in four clinical forms. ... Approximately 20% of untreated cases of this type of anthrax will result in death. 2. ... Anthrax is a biological weapon of choice for a couple of reasons. ...
Interest in the pathogenesis, immunity, and vaccine development for anthrax was heightened by the deliberate contamination of mail with B. anthracis spores soon after the September 11 attacks. ... Anthracis Cutaneous Anthrax Cutaneous anthrax is the most common form of anthrax infection, accounting for 90% to 95% of the cases worldwide and all of the prior cases reported in the United States. ... Penicillin and ampicillin should not be used alone to treat anthrax because of concerns about beta-lactamase activity. (2) When treated with antibiotics, the death rate of cutaneous anthrax is les...
In 1877, Robert koch grew an organism called anthrax. ... There are 3 kinds of anthrax: 1) Cutaneous Anthrax: most common form of the disease in humans; caused by contact with the infected animals. ... Inhalation anthrax is usually fatal. ... Recently, numerous people have been infected with anthrax. ... Who should get vaccinated against anthrax? ...
Bacillus anthracis - Anthrax This specific disease begins as a small papule, as shown above. ... With Cutaneous anthrax, it enlarges and progresses to a vesicle in 1-2 days. ... The most common victims or anthrax is anybody who comes into contact with it. ... Various drugs have been found to be effective in the treatment of anthrax. ... Ciprofloxacin is the drug that is most commonly used in the treatment of anthrax. ...
If left untreated anthrax can and usually does result in death. ... If I didn't know what anthrax was, looks like, or its symptoms, how would I know if I received an anthrax-laced letter one day? ... (Barry) If people actually thought powdered sugar, Parmesan cheese, and regular sugar looked like anthrax, I now had a good outlook on how anthrax looked. Since I had a good idea of what anthrax looked liked, I decided I should start finding background information and facts about anthrax. ... Eating contaminated meat causes gastrointestinal anthrax. ...
