What is anthrax?

Konuyu Hazırlayan: Dr. Eda Sakbaş & Hem. Yasemin Yazgünoğlu & Yük. Bio Olcay Irmak

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic lower vertebrates (cattle, sheep, goats, camels, antelopes, and other herbivores), but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or tissue from infected animals.

How is anthrax transmitted?

Anthrax infection can occur in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation, and gastrointestinal. B. anthracis spores can live in the soil for many years, and humans can become infected with anthrax by handling products from infected animals or by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products. Anthrax can also be spread by eating undercooked meat from infected animals. It is rare to find infected animals in the United States.

What are the symptoms of anthrax?

Symptoms of disease vary depending on how the disease was contracted, but symptoms usually occur within 7 days.

Cutaneous: Most (about 95%) anthrax infections occur when the bacterium enters a cut or abrasion on the skin, such as when handling contaminated wool, hides, leather or hair products (especially goat hair) of infected animals. Skin infection begins as a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite but within 1-2 days develops into a vesicle and then a painless ulcer, usually 1-3 cm in diameter, with a characteristic black necrotic (dying) area in the center. Lymph glands in the adjacent area may swell. About 20% of untreated cases of cutaneous anthrax will result in death. Deaths are rare with appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Inhalation: Initial symptoms may resemble a common cold. After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. Inhalation anthrax is usually fatal.

Intestinal: The intestinal disease form of anthrax may follow the consumption of contaminated meat and is characterized by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract. Initial signs of nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. Intestinal anthrax results in death in 25% to 60% of cases.

Can anthrax be spread from person-to-person?

Direct person-to-person spread of anthrax is extremely unlikely to occur. Communicability is not a concern in managing or visiting with patients with inhalational anthrax.

What can be done to prevent anthrax?

There is a vaccine for anthrax (given in 6 doses) that is recommended for persons who work with anthrax in the lab. for persons who work with animal products that may be infected, and for all U.S. military personnel due to the possibility of exposure through germ warfare. A consensus panel also suggests the use of the vaccine for patients exposed to inhalational anthrax.

Suspicious Impression

1. If there is a strange address on the envelope or the pocket,
2. If the hand writing on the envelope or the pocket are unknown,
3. If the envelope or the pocket are horizontal way or unbalanced,
4. If there is an unbalanced perception between the weight and the length of the envelope or the pocket,
5. If the envelope is thicker than 5 mm.
6. If there is a view like spring either on or behind and on the sides of the envelope,
7. If there is small hole on the envelope and the pocket.
8. If there is an abnormal smell in the envelope,
9. If the envelope is louse or solid.

Precautions

1. Do not open the envelope or the pocket
2. You have to inform the security department
3. The suspicious envelope or the pocket have to be isolated and put the pocket or the envelope
4. Don’t hold the pocket or the envelope with wet hand
5. You have to wash your hand after touching to suspicious envelope or pocket
6. During the separation of the envelope and the pocket you have to wear a mask and glove against the biological and the chemical elements.

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