The general idea that anthrax is not a danger we need to worry about is wrong, because we have had three major sets of anthrax incidents in the USA since the 1970s. It is only a fluke that we did not get a pandemic out of one or more of them.
Anything, like anthrax, that you can put in an ordinary envelope and send through the mail with an expectation that it could spread an epidemic throughout an entire nation, is something to consider for disaster preparedness.
No matter whether your area is safe from tornadoes, hurricanes, or tsunamis, you can be hit by anthrax. If you want to prepare yourself for emergencies, anthrax should be on your list.
I am going to give you the tools to work with to be prepared for an anthrax emergency. It is up to you whether you choose to use them or not.
Here is a fact sheet offered by the Center for Disease Control on anthrax:
Anthrax: What You Need To Know
What Is Anthrax?
Anthrax is a serious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that forms spores. A bacterium is a very small organism made up of one cell. Many bacteria can cause disease. A spore is a cell that is dormant (asleep) but may come to life with the right conditions.There are three types of anthrax:
- skin (cutaneous)
- lungs (inhalation)
- digestive (gastrointestinal)
How Do You Get It?
Anthrax is not known to spread from one person to another.Anthrax from animals. Humans can become infected with anthrax by handling products from infected animals or by breathing in anthrax spores from infected animal products (like wool, for example). People also can become infected with gastrointestinal anthrax by eating undercooked meat from infected animals.
Anthrax as a weapon. Anthrax also can be used as a weapon. This happened in the United States in 2001. Anthrax was deliberately spread through the postal system by sending letters with powder containing anthrax. This caused 22 cases of anthrax infection.
How Dangerous Is Anthrax?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies agents with recognized bioterrorism potential into three priority areas (A, B and C). Anthrax is classified as a Category A agent. Category A agents are those that:- pose the greatest possible threat for a bad effect on public health
- may spread across a large area or need public awareness
- need a great deal of planning to protect the public’s health
What Are the Symptoms?
The symptoms (warning signs) of anthrax are different depending on the type of the disease:- Cutaneous: The first symptom is a small sore that develops into a blister. The blister then develops into a skin ulcer with a black area in the center. The sore, blister and ulcer do not hurt.
- Gastrointestinal: The first symptoms are nausea, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, and fever, followed by bad stomach pain.
- Inhalation: The first symptoms of inhalation anthrax are like cold or flu symptoms and can include a sore throat, mild fever and muscle aches. Later symptoms include cough, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, tiredness and muscle aches. (Caution: Do not assume that just because a person has cold or flu symptoms that they have inhalation anthrax.)
How Soon Do Infected People Get Sick?
Symptoms can appear within 7 days of coming in contact with the bacterium for all three types of anthrax. For inhalation anthrax, symptoms can appear within a week or can take up to 42 days to appear.How Is Anthrax Treated?
Antibiotics are used to treat all three types of anthrax. Early identification and treatment are important.Prevention after exposure. Treatment is different for a person who is exposed to anthrax, but is not yet sick. Health-care providers will use antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, doxycycline, or penicillin) combined with the anthrax vaccine to prevent anthrax infection.
Treatment after infection. Treatment is usually a 60-day course of antibiotics. Success depends on the type of anthrax and how soon treatment begins.
Can Anthrax Be Prevented?
Vaccination. There is a vaccine to prevent anthrax, but it is not yet available for the general public. Anyone who may be exposed to anthrax, including certain members of the U.S. armed forces, laboratory workers, and workers who may enter or re-enter contaminated areas, may get the vaccine. Also, in the event of an attack using anthrax as a weapon, people exposed would get the vaccine.What Should I Do if I Think I Have Anthrax?
If you are showing symptoms of anthrax infection, call your health-care provider right away.What Should I Do if I Think I Have Been Exposed to Anthrax?
Contact local law enforcement immediately if you think that you may have been exposed to anthrax. This includes being exposed to a suspicious package or envelope that contains powder.What Is CDC Doing To Prepare For a Possible Anthrax Attack?
CDC is working with state and local health authorities to prepare for an anthrax attack. Activities include:- Developing plans and procedures to respond to an attack using anthrax.
- Training and equipping emergency response teams to help state and local governments control infection, gather samples, and perform tests. Educating health-care providers, media, and the general public about what to do in the event of an attack.
- Working closely with health departments, veterinarians, and laboratories to watch for suspected cases of anthrax. Developing a national electronic database to track potential cases of anthrax.
- Ensuring that there are enough safe laboratories for quickly testing of suspected anthrax cases.
- Working with hospitals, laboratories, emergency response teams, and health-care providers to make sure they have the supplies they need in case of an attack.
Here are some pictures from the Center for Disease Control of Anthrax:
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Photo ID# 4504 This female patient is shown here on the 5th day of a Bacillus anthracis infection involving her left eye. |
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| Photo ID# 1801 Anthrax, skin of right forearm, 7th day. |
The link to the CDC follows. There are more links on their site to more pictures of anthrax if you want to see them. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/anthrax/photos.htm
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