Anthrax
By: Emma Sorg
Discovery
Robert Koch found that the disease was caused by a bacteria Called Bacillus antracis ( Buh-SIL-us an-THRAY-sus) which forms spores in the soil. Then when the animals would go out to graze they would become infected, and eventually would infect the farmers that worked with them.
Transmission
1.Cutaneous (Cut or scrape)
This is the most common way to be infected. If someone with a cut or scrape comes into contact with an animal carrying the spores on their fur/hide they can become infected. The people who most at risk for this are Farmers, vets, and Wool processors.
2. Inhalation
This happens when anthrax spores enter the lungs. Airborne spores most commonly infect people who work as tannery workers or wool processors.
3. Tainted meat
The last way to be infected is to eat meat tainted with anthrax.
Symtoms
Cutaneous
Symptoms:
- Itching
- Large boil or sore forms (may blister)
- Sore usually gets covered in a black scab
- Infection can spread to your lymph nodes and blood stream.
Symptoms:
- Fever
- Headache
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Shock (can occur later)
Systems effected:
- Spores germinate inside lungs for 1-6 days
- Spores release toxic substances which cause: Internal bleeding, swelling, and tissue death.
Gastrointestinal
Symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- diarrhea (Bloody)
- Fever
- Mouth sores
- Nausea
- Vomiting (Bloody)
Systems effected:
- Intestinal bleeding
Bio-terrorism
When The Anthrax was sent to labs they described it as "energetic" unlike the wet Anthrax they had worked with this Anthrax was dry and crushed into a very fine powder that would often float even in the bag it was kept in, and would often drift toward you if you were near it.
Treatment/Prevention
Citations
"Anthrax (malignant Edema, Woolsorters' Disease)." Anthrax (malignant Edema, Woolsorters' Disease). Department of Health, Oct. 2011. Web. 04 Dec. 2014.
"Anthrax: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Web. 02 Dec. 2014.
"History of Biowarfare." PBS. PBS, Feb. 2002. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.
Hoff, Brent, Carter Smith, and Charles H. Calisher. Mapping Epidemics: A Historical Atlas of Disease. New York: Franklin Watts, 2000. Print.
Iptv. "Watch Now: FRONTLINE | The Anthrax Files | PBS Video." PBS Video. Iptv, 11 May 2011. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
"The Threat." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 05 Dec. 2014.
"What Is Anthrax?" KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Ed. Steven Dowshen. The Nemours Foundation, 01 Jan. 2013. Web. 04 Dec. 2014.
Wikipedia. File:Bacillus Anthracis Gram.jpg. Digital image. Wikipedia. CDC, Mar. 2009. Web.
Wikipedia. File:Skin Reaction to Anthrax.jpg. Digital image. United States Army, Dec. 2011. Web.