Anthrax Facts
What is anthrax?
Anthrax is a rare infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus
anthracis. It can occur in wild and domestic hoofed animals, especially
cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and antelopes. It can also occur
in humans when they are exposed to the bacterium. There are three
forms of anthrax infection: cutaneous (skin), inhalation (lungs),
and gastrointestinal (stomach and intestine). If people have been
intentionally exposed, as in a bioterrorist release, breathing
in the spores or contact with skin would be the most likely routes
of exposure.
How common is anthrax and who can get it?
Anthrax can be found globally. It is most common in agricultural
regions where it occurs in animals. It is more common in developing
countries or countries without veterinary public health programs.
Anthrax is reported more often in some regions of the world (South
and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa,
the Caribbean, and the Middle East) than in others and is extremely
rare in the United States. When anthrax affects humans, it is
usually due to an occupational exposure to infected animals or
their products. However, anthrax is considered to be one of a
number of potential agents for use in biological terrorism.
How is anthrax spread?
Getting anthrax from another person is very rare. Anthrax is generally
spread through the following three methods:
- Skin (cutaneous) - Most anthrax infections occur when people
touch contaminated animal products like wool, bone, hair, and
hide. The infection occurs when the bacteria enters a cut or
scratch in the skin.
- Inhalation - Some anthrax infections occur when people breathe
in the spores of the bacteria. (A spore is the form that certain
bacteria take in unfavorable growing conditions. When in better
conditions, like the human lung, the bacteria will begin to
grow and cause disease.)
- Gastrointestinal - Some people may get anthrax by eating
infected meat.
What are the symptoms of anthrax?
- Skin (cutaneous) - First, the exposed skin itches. Then,
a large boil-like sore appears. The sore becomes a black scab.
If not treated, the infection can spread to the lymph nodes
and bloodstream.
- Inhalation - First, people have cold or flu-type symptoms.
These symptoms can get worse, result in serious breathing problems,
and cause some people to stop breathing.
- Gastrointestinal - People may have fever; pain in their abdomen;
loose, watery bowel movements; and blood in their vomitus.
How soon after exposure would symptoms develop?
Symptoms develop between one and seven days after exposure but prolonged
periods up to 60 days are possible.
Can anthrax be spread person to person?
Inhalation (lung) anthrax is not spread from person to person.
Even if you develop symptoms of inhalation anthrax, you are not
contagious to other persons. If you develop cutaneous (skin) anthrax,
the drainage from an open sore presents a low risk of infection
to others. The only way cutaneous (skin) anthrax can be transmitted
is by direct contact with the drainage from an open sore. Anthrax
is not spread from person to person by casual contact, sharing
office space, or by coughing and sneezing.
How is anthrax diagnosed?
Anthrax is diagnosed when the Bacillus anthracis bacterium is
found in the blood, skin lesions, or respiratory secretions by
a laboratory culture. It can also be diagnosed by measuring specific
antibodies in the blood of infected persons.
What is the treatment?
There are several antibiotics that are used successfully to treat
anthrax. The United States has a large supply of these antibiotics
and can quickly manufacture even more if needed.
Is there a way to prevent infection?
Persons exposed to anthrax spores via a bioterrorist act will
be given antibiotics to prevent infection. There is a vaccine
against anthrax, but it is not generally available, nor is it
recommended except for those at high risk, such as laboratory
scientists handling the bacterium or members of the armed forces.
Do I need to disinfect myself or my belongings if I believe
I was exposed to anthrax?
Most threats regarding anthrax have proven to be hoaxes. However,
in the event of a possible exposure, there are certain actions
to take to avoid possible infection. If you have a skin exposure,
you can shower with soap and water to reduce the chance of getting
the cutaneous or gastrointestinal forms of the disease. Your clothes
do not pose any significant health risk to you. Washing the clothes
in the regular laundry will safely remove any possible anthrax.
You do not need to discard the clothes. To be inhaled, anthrax
spores must first be aerosolized (dispersed in the air) which
is difficult to do. In the unlikely event that you inhale spores,
medical evaluation and treatment is needed.
New York State Department of Health, 10/12/01
CUTANEOUS ANTHRAX FACTS
What is cutaneous anthrax?
An uncommon cutaneous (skin) infection due to a bacterium (Bacillus
anthracis) that is found in the environment and typically causes
illlness in animals. Cutaneous (skin) anthrax is marked by a boil-like
lesion that eventually forms an ulcer with a black center.
How is cutaneous anthrax contracted?
The infection occurs when the bacteria enter a cut or scratch
in the skin. Most cutaneous anthrax infections occur when people
touch animal products (like wool, bone, hair, and hide) that come
from an animal that died of anthrax.
Can cutaneous anthrax be spread from person to person?
If you develop cutaneous anthrax, the drainage from the open sore
presents a low risk of infection to others. The only way cutaneous
anthrax can be transmitted is by direct contact with the drainage
from an open sore. Cutaneous anthrax is not spread from person
to person by casual contact, sharing office space, or by coughing
and sneezing.
How is cutaneous anthrax treated?
The cutaneous form of anthrax responds well to several antibiotics.
The United States has a large supply of these antibiotics and
can quickly manufacture more if needed. With treatment, complete
recovery from cutaneous anthrax is usual.
How is cutaneous anthrax diagnosed?
Cutaneous anthrax is diagnosed when the Bacillus anthracis bacterium
is found in the skin lesion by a laboratory culture. It can also
be diagnosed by measuring specific antibodies in the blood of
persons who are suspected of having infection.
Can I die from cutaneous anthrax?
Cutaneous anthrax is not usually fatal. If treated with appropriate
antibiotics, most individuals make a full recovery.
New York State Department of Health, 10/12/01
PROTOCOLS FOR MAIL HANDLING (New
York State Dept. of Health/State Police)
General:
- Every business and organization should assess and review
their protocols for handling mail. Common sense and care should
be used in inspecting and opening mail or packages.
- Examine unopened envelopes for foreign bodies or powder.
- Do not open letters with your hands: use a letter opener.
- Open letters and packages with a minimum of movement to avoid
spilling any contents.
- Each organization should assess whether it is a possible
target for criminal acts. Based on this assessment, you may
wish to take additional precautions such as wearing gloves and
restricting the opening of mail to a limited number of trained
individuals.
What Types of Letters May be Suspect:
- Any letter or package that has suspicious or threatening
messages written on it
- Letters with oily stains
- Envelopes that are lopsided, rigid, bulky, discolored or
have a strange odor
- Envelopes with no return address
- Unexpected envelopes from foreign countries
- No postage or non-cancelled postage
- Improper spelling of common names, places or titles
FOR SUSPECT ENVELOPES:
- DO NOT OPEN THE ENVELOPE OR PACKAGE.
- LEAVE it and EVACUATE the room.
- KEEP others from entering.
- NOTIFY your supervisor, who should call 911 or the local
law enforcement authorities.
- FOR PACKAGES THAT ARE OPENED AND WHICH CONTAIN SUSPICIOUS
MATERIAL
DO NOT PANIC
Anthrax organisms can cause skin infection, gastrointestinal infection
or pulmonary infection. To do so, the organism must be rubbed
into abraded skin, swallowed, or inhaled as a fine, aerosolized
mist. It does not leap into one's body. All forms of disease are
generally treatable with antibiotics.
Anthrax cannot be easily aerosolized out of an envelope or package
containing powder. The same facts and conditions are generally
true for other bacteria likely to be considered as biological
weapons.
CONTAIN THE EXPOSURE
- Close off the room (doors and windows), do not allow anyone
other than qualified emergency personnel to enter.
- Close the package or envelope to limit additional exposure.
Do not clean powder up; keep others away.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or any other part of your body.
- If possible, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- If clothing is heavily contaminated, don't brush vigorously.
- If possible, close down the buildings heating/air conditioning/ventilation
system.
- Make a list of all people who had actual contact with the
powder for investigating authorities.
NOTIFY APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES
Immediately contact:
- 911 or your local law enforcement authorities,
- your local FBI field office, and
- your local health department (in Tompkins County, 607-274-6674)
More information, New York State Health Department, Bureau of
Communicable Disease Control: 518-473-1730 (day); 518-465-9720 (after
hours)
RELATED LINKS
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
|
