Anthrax+Overview

=Anthrax Overview = Anthrax is an acute disease cause by the bacteria Bacillus Anthracis. There are many different forms of the disease, some are highly lethal. The Anthrax bacillus is one of only a few bacteria that are able to form long-lived spores in a hostile environment. This means anthrax can survive in several conditions, including that of a dead host or an area of extreme temperatures and remain dormant there for several decades until it comes into contact with a host at which point it reactivates and begins multiplying. There are three main modes by which anthrax can infect a host. These are: Inhalation, Ingestion, and Cutaneous.  http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Anthrax_color_enhanced_micrograph.JPG =Inhalational Anthrax = Infection via inhalation first manifests itself via symptoms such as cold or flu. This is followed by severe respiratory failure and almost certain death. Only an extreme minority of cases can be treated, Respiratory anthrax has a near 100% mortality rate. As such, this mode of infection is often used in bioweapons. =Gastrointestinal Anthrax = Infection via ingestion is caused by eating anthrax infected meat (or any food in which anthrax spores are present). It is characterized by inflammation of the intestinal tract, loss of appetite, vomiting, and/or severe diarrhea. Once the anthrax reaches the bowel system, it spreads through the blood stream, making potentially lethal toxins. Fatality rates usually vary from 25-60% depending on how soon treatment ensues. =Coetaneous Anthrax = Infection via skin lesion results in a small, boil-like and painless bruise developing at the site of penetration within five days on infection. Skin anthrax is the comparatively benign, with treatment this type of anthrax is almost never fatal, and without treatment there is a 20% rate of fatality. =Treatment = There are not many ways to treat a patient infected by anthrax, the disease usually takes its course until it is wiped out or their host is dead. By far the most effective combatant of anthrax is an anthrax vaccine such as the FDA-licensed BIOTHRAX vaccine. However vaccines must be taken before infection to be effective. Many types of tea have polyphenols, an antioxident that inhibits anthrax activity. Therefore, some types of tea may slow down an anthrax baterium. However it should be noted that tea WILL NOT destroy anthrax spores, meaning regular doses of tea will only slow down, but not stop the disease.  http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2001/10/16/decontamination.jpg =Prevention = The only effective an practical way to avoid contamination by anthrax spores is to keep away from infected materials. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center; display: block;">When an anthrax host, be it human or animal, dies, all materials that have come into contact with the victim must be disinfected and prefferably burned. In addition, the dead body should be sealed in an airtight bodybag and cremated. Simply burying the body will not kill the anthrax spores. Forward: Anthrax History Anthrax Home