This highly contagious disease has been used as a biological weapon

Photo Credits: WBFO.org, NPR

Name
Anthrax

Transmission

• A severe infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis bacteria
• The bacteria mainly affect wild and domestic plant-eating animals though other types of animals can also contract it
  • Animals become infected when they ingest bacterial spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water (the bacteria can live in the environment for decades)
• People get sick when the infectious bacterial spores enter the body (often through contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products) but there are three main types of transmission:
  • Cutaneous: Skin injuries (cuts, scrapes) that allow the bacterial spores to penetrate
  • Pulmonary: Breathing in bacterial spores
  • Gastrointestinal: Eating/drinking contaminated food and water
• Person-to-person transmission is rare, but possible with infection via skin injuries
• When the spores enter the body they multiply, spread, produce poisons, and cause severe illness

Geography
Worldwide, especially central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, central and southwestern Asia, southern and eastern Europe, and the Caribbean

Incubation Period

The incubation period varies from 1 day to 60 days depending on the circumstances, for example:

• When contracted via skin injuries: 1 day
• When contracted via breathing in bacterial spores: 1-7 days

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms depend on the type of infection and can appear 1 day to more than 2 months after active infection

• Cutaneous anthrax
  • A swollen sore (often on the face, neck, arms, or hands)
  • A skin ulcer (often with a black center)
  • Itchy blisters or bumps

• Pulmonary anthrax
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweats
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Body aches
  • Stomach pains
  • Chest Discomfort
  • Confusion or dizziness
  • Cough

• Gastrointestinal anthrax
  • Fainting
  • Fever
  • Hoarseness
  • Swelling of neck or neck glands
  • Diarrhea (with blood)
  • Sore throat
  • Chills
  • Painful swallowing
  • Bloody vomiting
  • Headache
  • Stomach Pain
  • Swollen abdomen
  • Red face
  • Red eyes
  • Nausea

Diagnosis

• Chest X-rays
• CT scans
• Laboratory testing of blood, spinal fluid, skin secretions, and respiratory secretions

Treatment

• Antibiotics and antitoxins
• For severe cases requiring hospitalization, draining fluids and using a ventilator machine to support breathing may be part of the treatment

Prognosis

• Cutaneous anthrax: 20% of people die
• Pulmonary anthrax: very severe, 85-90% of people die
• Gastrointestinal anthrax: 25- 50% of people die
  

Prevention: What Can You Do?

• There is a vaccine but it has not been properly tested in humans so is often not used
• If you know you have been exposed to the bacterial spores, antibiotics can prevent a full infection from developing

Anthrax In the News

• Russia outbreak affects dozens in north Siberia
• “Zombie” Anthrax Goes on a Killing Spree in Siberia–How?

Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/
http://www.who.int/topics/anthrax/en/