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What Is Anthrax?
By Liza Jane Maltin Anthrax is a disease caused by a type of
bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. The germ produces infectious spores
that, when buried in the ground, can live for years. Anthrax is most often seen
in wild and domesticated cattle, but it also can sicken humans who touch or
inhale any spores from a live or dead infected animal, or eat undercooked meat
from an infected animal. According to the CDC, anthrax is a likely
candidate for use as a weapon of biological terrorism, or bioterror. The
antibiotic Cipro is the only drug currently FDA-approved for preventing the
development of anthrax after exposure, or the worsening of symptoms after the
disease has taken hold. Anthrax is curable if it is recognized and treated
early enough in the development of the infection. The disease takes three distinct forms
depending on how the germ enters the body: cutaneous (through a cut or scrape
on the skin), inhalation (breathed in), and gastrointestinal (eaten). All forms
of anthrax are quite rare in the U.S. But when one does occur, symptoms usually
show up a day to a week after exposure. Here is a list of what these symptoms
look like: Cutaneous: Starts out with a bump like a mosquito bite, usually
on the hand, but within a few days, it turns into a painless, open sore with a
tell-tale black center of dead tissue. This form of anthrax is highly
treatable, and about 20% of untreated victims die. Inhalation: At first, it feels like the common cold, but it can
rapidly progress to severe pneumonia with difficulty breathing and shock. This
form is usually fatal without treatment, but it is not contagious. Gastrointestinal: Begins with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and
fever, and it progresses to vomiting of blood and severe diarrhea. This form is
deadly in 25% to 60% of cases but is extremely rare in humans and almost unknown
in the U.S. Farm animals are regularly vaccinated against
anthrax, but formulas prepared for livestock should never be used in people. A
human anthrax vaccine does exist, which is used to boost the immune system. The
vaccine for people is about 93% effective, but for now, it's available only to
military personnel deployed to areas with a high threat of biological warfare
and to people who work closely with the bacteria, potentially-infectious
animals, or animal by-products. The only other way to develop immunity to the
disease is to have survived a previous anthrax infection. The body then
recognizes the dangerous type of bacteria again and knows how to fight it. Immunization isn't a quick fix, anyway. It
requires three shots given two weeks apart, three more shots given six, 12, and
18 months later, then annual booster shots after that. There are no live or
dead anthrax bacteria in the vaccine, and the serious adverse reactions are
rare (about 0.2%). You can reach the Anthrax Vaccine
Immunization Program in the U.S. Army Surgeon General's Office at
1-877-GETVACC. AnthraxINFO.doc |