Anthrax As a Pandemic

Saturday, August 25, 2012 | Unknown at 9:24 AM |

Anthrax is an infectious illness caused by a bacterium called Bacillus Anthracis. It is considered to be an acute infectious illness, which is caused by a spore forming bacterium bacillus anthracic. This disease frequently occurs in wild or domestic animals like cattle, goats and other herbivores, but also can occur in humans, if exposed to infected animals. Anthrax can be frequently found in agricultural areas as habitat. If this disease affects humans, it is normally due to the exposure to infected animals through their tissues. Most likely direct to direct transmission is extremely fatal for the people. Hence, to be on the safer side, treatment should be sought immediately by the help of an experienced doctor. You need to do it early enough to avoid it from becoming fatal.

HOW CAN A PERSON GET ANTHRAX?

There are several ways by which human beings can get infected.

• Cutaneous: Anthrax infections can occur when the bacterium enters the wounds or a scratch on the skin. This may occur when handling polluted wool, animal hides and also the animal itself. The symptoms include ulceration of the skin, where the abrasion lies and also swollen lymph glands in the contiguous area.

• Inhalation: the initial symptoms may appear as common cold but after number of days, the symptoms progresses to become severe breathing problems and mostly you can experience shock. Inhalation Anthrax is however, considered very dangerous. So it is wise to detect it earlier to prevent destroying the whole body immunity system.

• Intestinal: this is the processes that include intake or ingestion of infected and contaminated meat. The symptoms are shown by inflammation of the intestine region, nausea, loss of appetite or vomiting of blood, abdominal pain and harsh diarrhea. Intestinal Anthrax occasionally is rated to have a fatality of 25% to 60%.

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT INFECTION OF ANTHRAX?

An individual is required to have vaccination early enough, if they find out that they have come in contact with an infected animal, and should definitely do it on a regular basis. It is also very important to vaccinate the animal herds for preventing the germs. Along with this, also a regular quarantine should be done to the animals for preventing the disease.

You must avoid getting in contact with the suspected infectious livestock. Avoid eating meat that has not been properly slaughtered or inspected with the recognized abattoir.

Avoid ingestion of meat that has not been properly cooked. However, if people who have been exposed to the bacteria but don't have or show no symptoms of the disease, the doctor might prescribe the preventive antibiotics like ciprofloxacin, penicillin and doxycycline, depending on the straining of Anthrax. Note that the Anthrax vaccines are available to military personnel as well as to all members of the general public. This service is always given in a sequence of five doses over 18 months.

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