Anthrax

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Anthrax

• Derek Hessing

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Anthrax Basics and History

• Anthrax is a bacteria
• Bacillus Anthracis
• There are three types of anthrax infection
• Anthrax stays in a spore form most of its life.
• Anthrax was first grown in a culture in 1877 by
  Robert Koch.

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Three types of Anthrax
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Spread of Anthrax

• Anthrax is carried mostly by mammals such as
  sheep, cattle, and goats.
• Anthrax spores can survive in soil and animal fur
  for years.
• Most people infected with anthrax get it from
  animals.

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Diagnosis and treatment

• Anthrax is diagnosed by testing for the bacteria
  in the blood or by checking for substances in the
  blood given off by the bacteria.
• Because anthrax is a bacteria, it is easily
  treated by antibiotics and rarely results in
  death.

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Symptoms of Anthrax

• In cutaneous anthrax, a sore develops at the area
  of infection, then a blister, and an ulcer.
• Inhalation anthrax starts out like flu or cold.
  A fever, sore throat, and cough are likely.
  Later in the progression of the disease, the
  infected person may experience shortness of
  breath, chest pains, and muscle aches
• Digestive anthrax causes nausea, loss of
  appetite, bloody diarrhea and fever. Later, they
  may develop chest pains.

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Anthrax as a Weapon

• Anthrax was developed as a weapon, but has not
  been used much except by terrorists.
• A treaty was signed by 143 countries that banned
  its use.
• It is effective as a weapon because of its ease
  of storage, its long life span as a spore, and
  its potential effect on large populations.
• No one in the U.S has died from anthrax since
  1976.

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Resources

• http//www.bact.wisc.edu/Bact330/lectureanthrax
• http//www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/needtoknow.asp
  
• http//www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/anthr
  ax.html