Anthrax is a serious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which can cause infection when people come in direct contact with objects or animals contaminated with the bacteria, when they eat contaminated animal meat, or when they inhale spores of this bacterium in the environment. .
Infection with this bacteria is quite severe and can compromise the functioning of the intestine and lungs, which can lead to coma and death within a few days of infection.Due to its toxic action, anthrax can be used as a biological weapon as it has spread.by dusting in letters and objects as a form of terrorism.
- Symptoms of anthrax vary depending on the form of transmission.
- The person’s immune system.
- And the amount of spores the person has come into contact with.
- Signs and symptoms of infection may begin to appear approximately 12 hours to 5 days after exposure to the bacteria.
- And can cause clinical manifestations depending on the form of infection:.
If the bacteria reaches the brain after reaching the bloodstream, it can cause a very serious brain infection and meningitis, which is almost always fatal.In addition, all these manifestations are very serious and if they are not identified and treated quickly, they can lead to death.
Infection with Bacillus anthracis can occur through contact with objects or animals contaminated with spores of the bacterium, which in most cases are cows, goats and sheep.When infection occurs through contact with spores and causes skin symptoms to develop, the infection can spread easily from person to person.
Other forms of transmission of the disease are meat ingestion or derived from contaminated animals and inhalation of spores, which is the most common form of transmission in the case of bioterrorism, for example, these two forms of transmission are not transmitted from person to person, but are considered more serious because bacteria can more easily reach the bloodstream , spread to other parts of the body and cause more severe symptoms.
Anthrax infection is treated with the use of antibiotics that should be used in accordance with the advice of the infectious diseases specialist and/or the GP, in addition, medications may be recommended to neutralize the action of the toxin produced and released by bacteria.preventing the development of the disease and relieving symptoms.
The anthrax vaccine is not available to the general population, only to people who are most likely to be exposed to the bacteria, as is the case with the military and scientists, for example.
Since the spores of this bacterium are not present in the environment, only in reference laboratories for war purposes if necessary, the anthrax vaccine is only available to those considered at risk, such as military laboratories, scientists, technicians, employees of textile and veterinary companies.
Since bacteria can also be found in the digestive system or on the skin of animals, one way to prevent infection is to monitor the health of animals, thus reducing the presence of bacteria in the environment.
In the case of the use of Bacillus anthracis as a form of bioterrorism, the best strategy to prevent infection and development of the disease is vaccination and antibiotic use for about 60 days.