Anthrax is an acute infectious disease that came into the limelight recently due to the Anthrax Attacks in the United States in the weeks following the September 2001 terror attacks, causing widespread panic. This report on Anthrax includes information on how the disease is caused, types of Anthrax, symptoms of the disease and its treatment. It also includes information on the 2001 Anthrax attacks in the U.S. And why anthrax is a good bioterrorism agent.

How is Anthrax Caused?

Anthrax is caused by the bacterium

"Bacillus anthracis' that is highly lethal in its virulent form. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic animals, but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals, tissue from infected animals, or high concentrations of anthrax spores.

Bacillus Anthracis

Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium which causes anthrax, is rod-shaped and about 1 by 6 micrometres in size. It was the first bacterium ever to be shown to cause disease by Robert Koch

in 1877. The bacteria normally rest in spore form in the soil, and can survive for decades in this state. When ingested by a plant eating animal, the bacteria starts to multiply and eventually kills the animal. They even continue to reproduce in the carcass but eventually revert back to the dormant spore state when they run out of nutrients. ("Bacillus anthracis.")

Types of Anthrax and Ways in Which it can Infect Humans

There are three types of anthrax, classified according to how it enters the human body:

1. through the intestines (gastrointestinal)

2. through the lungs (inhalation), or

3. through...

It is the most deadly form of the disease with almost 100% mortality rate if treatment is not started before the onset of symptoms. A lethal dose of this type of anthrax may result from inhaling 10,000-20,000 spores.
Gastrointestinal Type.

This type of anthrax can be caused by ingesting undercooked meat from infected animals. Symptoms include serious gastrointestinal difficulty, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. Untreated, intestinal infection results in a 25-60% death rate.

Cutaneous Type.

Anthrax infection contacted through the skin causes a large, painless ulcer that begins as a black colored itchy skin lesion or blister, at the site of infection, forming about a week or two after exposure. Unlike bruises or most other lesions, cutaneous anthrax does not cause pain. Approximately 20% of untreated cutaneous type anthrax cases are fatal. ("Anthrax: What You Need to Know")

Treatment

Anthrax infection is treated with large doses of intravenous and oral antibiotics. Pencillin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and erythromycin are some of the antibiotic types that have been found effective in treatment of anthrax. Since antibiotic treatment for inhalation cases is not effective unless started before symptoms occur, it is often crucial to start prophylactic antibiotic treatment if exposure is suspected.

A vaccine against prevention of anthrax exists but it is not yet available for the public. It is used to vaccinate…