What is anthrax?
Anthrax is a rare infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus
anthracis. It can occur in wild and domestic hoofed animals, especially
cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and antelopes. It can also occur in humans when
they are exposed to the bacterium. There are three forms of anthrax
infection: cutaneous (skin), inhalation (lungs), and gastrointestinal
(stomach and intestine). If people have been intentionally exposed, as in a
bioterrorist release, breathing in the spores or contact with skin would be
the most likely routes of exposure.
How common is anthrax and who can get it?
Anthrax can be found globally. It is most common in agricultural regions
where it occurs in animals. It is more common in developing countries or
countries without veterinary public health programs. Anthrax is reported more
often in some regions of the world (South and Central America, Southern and
Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East) than in
others and is extremely rare in the United States. When anthrax affects
humans, it is usually due to an occupational exposure to infected animals or
their products. However, anthrax is considered to be one of a number of
potential agents for use in biological terrorism.
How is anthrax spread?
Getting anthrax from another person is very rare. Anthrax is generally
spread through the following three methods:
Skin (cutaneous) - Most anthrax infections occur when people touch contaminated
animal products like wool, bone, hair, and hide. The infection occurs when
the bacteria enters a cut or scratch in the skin.
Inhalation - Some anthrax infections occur when people breathe in the
spores of the bacteria. (A spore is the form that certain bacteria take in
unfavorable growing conditions. When in better conditions, like the human
lung, the bacteria will begin to grow and cause disease.)
Gastrointestinal - Some people may get anthrax by eating infected meat.
What are the symptoms of
anthrax?
Skin (cutaneous) - First, the exposed skin itches. Then, a large boil-like sore
appears. The sore becomes a black scab. If not treated, the infection can
spread to the lymph nodes and bloodstream.
Inhalation - First, people have cold or flu-type symptoms. These symptoms
can get worse, result in serious breathing problems, and cause some people to
stop breathing.
Gastrointestinal - People may have fever; pain in their abdomen; loose, watery
bowel movements;
and blood in their vomitus.
How soon after exposure would
symptoms develop?
Symptoms develop between one and seven days after exposure but prolonged
periods up to 60 days are possible.
Can anthrax be spread person
to person?
Inhalation (lung) anthrax is not spread from person to person. Even if you
develop symptoms of inhalation anthrax, you are not contagious to other
persons. If you develop cutaneous (skin) anthrax, the drainage from an open
sore presents a low risk of infection to others. The only way cutaneous
(skin) anthrax can be transmitted is by direct contact with the drainage from
an open sore. Anthrax is not spread from person to person by casual contact,
sharing office space, or by coughing and sneezing.
How is anthrax diagnosed?
Anthrax is diagnosed when the Bacillus anthracis bacterium is found in the
blood, skin lesions, or respiratory secretions by a laboratory culture. It
can also be diagnosed by measuring specific antibodies in the blood of
infected persons.
What is the treatment?
There are several antibiotics that are used successfully to treat anthrax.
The United States has a large supply of these antibiotics and can quickly
manufacture even more if needed.
Is there a way to prevent
infection?
Persons exposed to anthrax spores via a bioterrorist act will be given
antibiotics to prevent infection. There is a vaccine against anthrax, but it
is not generally available, nor is it recommended except for those at high
risk, such as laboratory scientists handling the bacterium or members of the
armed forces.
Do I need to disinfect myself
or my belongings if I believe I was exposed to anthrax?
Most threats regarding anthrax have proven to be hoaxes. However, in the
event of a possible exposure, there are certain actions to take to avoid
possible infection. If you have a skin exposure, you can shower with soap and
water to reduce the chance of getting the cutaneous or gastrointestinal forms
of the disease. Your clothes do not pose any significant health risk to you.
Washing the clothes in the regular laundry will safely remove any possible
anthrax. You do not need to discard the clothes. To be inhaled, anthrax
spores must first be aerosolized (dispersed in the air) which is difficult to
do. In the unlikely event that you inhale spores, medical evaluation and
treatment is needed.
Cutaneous Anthrax Facts
What is cutaneous anthrax?
An uncommon cutaneous (skin) infection due to a bacterium (Bacillus
anthracis) that is found in the environment and typically causes illlness in
animals. Cutaneous (skin) anthrax is marked by a boil-like lesion that
eventually forms an ulcer with a black center.
How is cutaneous anthrax
contracted?
The infection occurs when the bacteria enter a cut or scratch in the skin.
Most cutaneous anthrax infections occur when people touch animal products
(like wool, bone, hair, and hide) that come from an animal that died of
anthrax.
Can cutaneous anthrax be
spread from person to person?
If you develop cutaneous anthrax, the drainage from the open sore presents
a low risk of infection to others. The only way cutaneous anthrax can be
transmitted is by direct contact with the drainage from an open sore.
Cutaneous anthrax is not spread from person to person by casual contact,
sharing office space, or by coughing and sneezing.
How is cutaneous anthrax
treated?
The cutaneous form of anthrax responds well to several antibiotics. The
United States has a large supply of these antibiotics and can quickly
manufacture more if needed. With treatment, complete recovery from cutaneous
anthrax is usual.
How is cutaneous anthrax
diagnosed?
Cutaneous anthrax is diagnosed when the Bacillus anthracis bacterium is
found in the skin lesion by a laboratory culture. It can also be diagnosed by
measuring specific antibodies in the blood of persons who are suspected of
having infection.
Can I die from cutaneous
anthrax?
Cutaneous anthrax is not usually fatal. If treated with appropriate
antibiotics, most individuals make a full recovery.
Protocols for Mail Handling
General:
Every business and organization should assess and review their protocols
for handling mail.
Common sense and care should be used in inspecting and opening mail or
packages.
Examine unopened envelopes for foreign bodies or powder.
Do not open letters with your hands: use a letter opener.
Open letters and packages with a minimum of movement to avoid spilling any
contents.
Each organization should assess whether it is a possible target for
criminal acts. Based on this assessment, you may wish to take additional
precautions such as wearing gloves and restricting the opening of mail to a
limited number of trained individuals.
What Types of Letters May be
Suspect:
Any letter or package that has suspicious or threatening messages written
on it Letters with oily stains
Envelopes that are lopsided, rigid, bulky, discolored or have a strange
odor
Envelopes with no return address
Unexpected envelopes from foreign countries
No postage or non-cancelled postage
Improper spelling of common names, places or titles
FOR SUSPECT ENVELOPES:
DO NOT OPEN THE ENVELOPE OR PACKAGE.
LEAVE it and EVACUATE the room.
KEEP others from entering.
NOTIFY your supervisor, who should call 911 or the local law enforcement
authorities.
FOR PACKAGES THAT ARE OPENED AND WHICH CONTAIN SUSPICIOUS MATERIAL
DO NOT PANIC
Anthrax organisms can cause skin infection, gastrointestinal infection or
pulmonary infection.
To do so, the organism must be rubbed into abraded skin, swallowed, or
inhaled as a fine, aerosolized mist. It does not leap into one's body. All
forms of disease are generally treatable with antibiotics.
Anthrax cannot be easily aerosolized out of an envelope or package
containing powder. The same facts and conditions are generally true for other
bacteria likely to be considered as biological weapons.
CONTAIN THE EXPOSURE
Close off the room (doors and windows), do not allow anyone other than
qualified emergency personnel to enter.
Close the package or envelope to limit additional exposure. Do not clean
powder up; keep others away.
Do not touch your eyes, nose or any other part of your body.
If possible, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
If clothing is heavily contaminated, don't brush vigorously.
If possible, close down the buildings heating/air conditioning/ventilation
system.
Make a list of all people who had actual contact with the powder for
investigating authorities.
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