Introduction
Anthrax is described in the early literature of the Greeks, Romans, and Hindus. The fifth plague, described in the book of Genesis, may be among the earliest descriptions of anthrax.
Anthrax is caused by exposure to the spores of a certain bacteria that become entrenched in the host body and produce lethal poisons. It is primarily a disease of grazing animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. Pigs are more resistant, as are dogs and cats. Birds usually are naturally resistant to anthrax. Buzzards and vultures are naturally resistant to anthrax but may transmit the spores on their talons and beaks.
Anthrax is now rare in humans in the United States and developed countries. It still occurs today, largely in countries lacking public-health regulations that prevent exposure to infected goats, cattle, sheep, and horses and their products. In the last few years, there have been rare cases of anthrax in people exposed to imported animal hides used to make drums. Drum players, drum makers, and their family members have been infected in this way. The major concern for those of us in western countries (who don't play drums) is the use of anthrax as an agent of biological warfare
What is Anthrax
Anthrax is a life-threatening infectious disease that normally affects animals, especially ruminants (such as goats, cattle, sheep, and horses). Anthrax can be transmitted to humans by contact with infected animals or their products. In recent years, anthrax has received a great deal of attention as it has become clear that the infection can also be spread by a bioterrorist attack or by biological warfare Anthrax does not spread from person to person.
Causes of Anthrax
The agent of anthrax is a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. While other investigators discovered the anthrax bacillus, it was a German physician and scientist, Dr. Robert Koch, who proved that the anthrax bacterium was the cause of a disease that affected farm animals in his community. Under the microscope, the bacteria look like large rods. However, in the soil, where they live, anthrax organisms exist in a dormant form called spores. These spores are very hardy and difficult to destroy. The spores have been known to survive in the soil for as long as 48 years.
Incubation Period for Anthrax
The incubation period (the period between contact with anthrax and the start of symptoms) may be relatively short, from one to five days. Like other infectious diseases, the incubation period for anthrax is quite variable and it may be weeks before an infected individual feels sick.
Diseases Caused by Anthrax
Anthrax is primarily a disease of domesticated and wild animals, particularly herbivorous animals. Humans become infected incidentally when brought into contact with diseased animals, their hides or hair, or their excrement. Many species of animals and birds can acquire the disease naturally.
In humans, anthrax is fairly rare (in non-bioterrorism settings); the risk of infection is about 1/100,000. People of any age may be affected. Most cases are mild and go away with treatment. Anthrax, however, can be lethal. There are several ways anthrax can cause illness. These are the 3 main ways anthrax affects humans: There are 3 main ways anthrax affect humans:
· Cutaneous anthrax
· Gastrointestinal tract anthrax
· Pulmonary (inhalation) anthrax
· Cutaneous Anthrax
This anthrax causes a characteristic sore on the skin and results from exposure to the spores after handling sick animals or contaminated animal wool, hair, hides, or bone meal products. It is an occupational hazard for veterinarians, farmers, and people who handle animal products. Where the bacteria are common, human infection remains uncommon. Humans are relatively resistant, but the spores may gain access through even tiny breaks in the skin.
Cutaneous anthrax is easy to cure if it is treated early with appropriate antibiotics.
· Gastrointestinal tract Anthrax
This sort of anthrax results from eating meat products that contain anthrax. Gastrointestinal anthrax is difficult to diagnose. It can produce sores in the mouth and throat. A person who has eaten contaminated products may feel throat pain or have difficulty swallowing.
This form of anthrax has a very high death rate.
· Pulmonary (inhalation) Anthrax
Pulmonary anthrax results from breathing anthrax spores into the lungs. People who handle animal hides infested with spores may develop inhalational anthrax, known as wool sorter’s disease. Once inhaled, the organisms multiply and may spread their toxins to the bloodstream and many other organs. Infection may spread from the liver, spleen, and kidneys back into the bloodstream, thus causing an overwhelming infection and death. This type of infection (known as septicemic anthrax) most commonly follows inhalational anthrax.
Treatment for Anthrax
The preferred way to treat anthrax is with antibiotics. The goal of antibiotics is to destroy the infection and prevent complications and death.
Many antibiotics are effective against B. anthracis and include the following:
o Doxycycline (Vibramycin)
o Penicillin
o Amoxicillin (Trimox, Amoxil, Biomox)
o Ampicillin (Marcillin, Omnipen, Polycillin, Principen, Totacillin)
o Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
o Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
o Gatifloxacin (Tequin)
o Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
Severely ill people may be given medications through an IV. Treatment may continue for several weeks. People exposed to anthrax may be given preventive antibiotics usually to be taken for 60 days.
Prevention for Anthrax
The spread of anthrax can be prevented by-
o carefully handle dead animals suspected of having anthrax
o provide good ventilation when processing hides, fur, hair or wool
o Vaccinate animals
Anthrax situation in Bangladesh
In recent time Bangladesh had encountered a serious anthrax outbreak among humans, though this disease were existing in cocoons for about a significant amount of time. Even red alert had been given in the country when the outbreak continued to climb. At that time almost 327 people had been infected by anthrax since the middle of August.
It is thought to have been caused by people slaughtering anthrax-infected cattle and selling or eating the contaminated meat.
The outbreak was first detected in the district of Sirajganj in late August which spreaded to four out of the country's 64 districts. Some north-western areas have repeated anthrax outbreaks.
The anthrax that had been scattered in Bangladesh were cutaneous, or skin anthrax, which causes wound-like lesions. Though this sort of anthrax is not that much alarming and at the same time vaccinations were available, the vulnerable situation has already become under control.
Conclusion
No doubt Anthrax is a deadly bacterial disease but this disease can also be handled nicely if measures can be taken to prevent the disease.
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