What is anthrax?
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic livestock (such as cattle, sheep, and goats), but infections can occur in humans as well. There are three types of anthrax disease, all caused by the same bacterium or germ: Cutaneous anthrax is a treatable skin infection that occurs when anthrax spores enter an open cut, sore, or abrasion in the skin. Symptoms of cutaneous anthrax usually occur within seven days. Itching of an exposed skin surface occurs first, followed by a lesion that becomes papular, then vesicular and surrounded by moderate to severe swelling, sometimes with small secondary vesicles. After 2-6 days the sore develops into a depressed black eschar or scab. Pain is unusual and, if present, is due to edema or secondary infection. The head, forearms and hands are common sites of infection. Cutaneous anthrax infections usually respond well to quick antibiotic treatment and mo
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic livestock (such as cattle, sheep, and goats), but infections can occur in humans as well. There are three types of anthrax disease, all caused by the same bacterium or germ: (Back to the Top) Cutaneous anthrax is a treatable skin infection that occurs when anthrax spores enter an open cut, sore, or abrasion in the skin. Symptoms of cutaneous anthrax usually occur within seven days. Itching of an exposed skin surface occurs first, followed by a lesion that becomes papular, then vesicular and surrounded by moderate to severe swelling, sometimes with small secondary vesicles. After 2-6 days the sore develops into a depressed black eschar or scab. Pain is unusual and, if present, is due to edema or secondary infection. The head, forearms and hands are common sites of infection. Cutaneous anthrax infections usually respond well to quick antibioti
First discovered in 1500 B.C. by the Egyptians, anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by a spore forming bacterium called “Bacillus anthracis.” The spores are designed to hibernate until conditions are conducive for growth and reproduction at which time they produce a fatal toxin. The spores can be eaten in contaminated meat, breathed in, or simply infect the skin directly through human to animal contact. Anthrax most commonly occurs in mammals such as cattle, sheep, goats, camels and antelopes, but can also occur in humans when they are exposed to such infected animals. Tests have shown that anthrax spores can survive for up to sixty (60) years in the soil.
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic lower vertebrates (cattle, sheep, goats, camels, antelopes, and other herbivores), but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or to tissue from infected animals or when anthrax spores are used as a bioterrorist weapon.
