Anthrax (Infectous disease)
By Jeff Perkins
What is Anthrax and What is it classified as?
Anthrax is caused by a spore-forming bacterium. It mainly affects animals. Humans can become infected through contact with an infected animal or by inhaling spores.
Symptoms depend on the route of infection. They can range from a skin ulcer with a dark scab to difficulty breathing.
Antibiotic treatment cures most infections. Inhaled anthrax is harder to treat and can be fatal.
Anthrax is a category A agent.
Signs and Symtoms of Anthrax
Chain of Infection
Anthrax mainly affects animals and humans get it when they come into contact with animals infected by anthrax. Humans can become infected by ingesting an infected animal, having an open wound and blood transferring from the infected animal to your open wound, or getting bit by an infected animal such as a mosquito. Anthrax spores can also be inhaled which if inhaled is the hardest type of anthrax to treat.
Cureable/Treatments
Antibiotic treatment cures most infections. Inhaled anthrax is harder to treat and can be fatal. Anthrax must be treated by a medical professional.
Prescriptions for Anthrax are Tetracycline, Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), Levofloxacin (Levaquin), Doxycycline, Penicillin G (Pfizerpen)
Anthrax Incubation Period
The incubation period is usually 1 day for cutaneous anthrax and 1–7 days for pulmonary anthrax. Mass exposures may have incubation periods up to 60 days for pulmonary anthrax which is from breathing in anthrax pores.
Anthrax Prevention Stratagies
Some antibiotics can prevent anthrax from developing. Staying away from animals that may have symptoms of anthrax is good with preventing the disease to spread to you. You can also breathe in anthrax pores so staying cautious of areas that may have many animals that have anthrax will help in preventing spreading the disease to you.