Anthrax 101
Preston
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Anthrax is a infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in livestock, but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or to tissue from infected animals or when anthrax spores are used as a bioterrorist weapon.Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions where it occurs in animals. Although anthrax can be found globally, it is more often a risk in countries with less s98\standardized and effective public health and animal health programs. Areas currently listed as high-risk are South and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. When anthrax affects humans, it is usually due to a workspace exposure to infected animals or their products. Workers who are exposed to dead animals and animal products (industrial anthrax) from other countries where anthrax is more common may become infected with anthracis. Anthrax in animals rarely occurs in the United States because of that human anthrax is rare in the US.Anthrax infection can occur in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation, and gastrointestinal. Spores of the bacterium B. anthracis can live in the soil for many years, and livestock can become infected by grazing on contaminated pasture. Humans can become infected with anthrax by handling infected animals or animal products or by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products. Eating undercooked meat from infected animals can also spread anthrax.Symptoms of disease vary depending on how the disease was contracted, but symptoms usually occur within seven days.Most anthrax infections occur when the bacterium enters a cut or abrasion on the skin, when handling contaminated wool and hides of infected animals. Skin infection begins as a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite but within one to two days the bump will blister and then develop into a painless ulcer, usually 1-3 cm in
Pictures are at bottom
Anthrax is a infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in livestock, but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or to tissue from infected animals or when anthrax spores are used as a bioterrorist weapon.Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions where it occurs in animals. Although anthrax can be found globally, it is more often a risk in countries with less s98\standardized and effective public health and animal health programs. Areas currently listed as high-risk are South and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. When anthrax affects humans, it is usually due to a workspace exposure to infected animals or their products. Workers who are exposed to dead animals and animal products (industrial anthrax) from other countries where anthrax is more common may become infected with anthracis. Anthrax in animals rarely occurs in the United States because of that human anthrax is rare in the US.Anthrax infection can occur in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation, and gastrointestinal. Spores of the bacterium B. anthracis can live in the soil for many years, and livestock can become infected by grazing on contaminated pasture. Humans can become infected with anthrax by handling infected animals or animal products or by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products. Eating undercooked meat from infected animals can also spread anthrax.Symptoms of disease vary depending on how the disease was contracted, but symptoms usually occur within seven days.Most anthrax infections occur when the bacterium enters a cut or abrasion on the skin, when handling contaminated wool and hides of infected animals. Skin infection begins as a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite but within one to two days the bump will blister and then develop into a painless ulcer, usually 1-3 cm in