Anthrax (Bacillus Anthracis)

Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium. The most common victims of anthrax are warm-blooded animals, but it can also infect humans. Anthrax spores can be produced in a powdery form for biological warfare. When inhaled by humans, these particles cause respiratory failure and death within a week. Because anthrax is considered to be a potential agent for use in biological warfare, the Department of Defense (DOD), in 1998, announced it would begin a systematic vaccination of all U.S. military personnel. (DOD, 1998) Anthrax infection occurs in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation, and gastrointestinal. B. anthracis spores can survive in the soil for many years and handling animal products from infected animals or inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products can cause humans to become infected. Anthrax can also be spread by eating undercooked meat from infected animals. Anthrax is diagnosed by isolating B. anthracis from the blood, skin lesions, or respiratory secretions or by measuring specific antibodies in the blood of suspected cases. (Dire, 2001)

Demographics

Anthrax is most common in the agricultural regions where it occurs in animals, such as South and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. When anthrax affects humans, it is usually because of occupational exposure to infected animals or their products. Workers who are exposed to dead animals and animal products from other countries where anthrax is more common may become infected with B. anthracis. Anthrax in animals rarely occurs in the United States. Most reports of animal infection are received from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and South Dakota. Symptoms of disease vary depending on how the disease was contracted, but symptoms usually occur within seven days. (Dire, 2001)

Types of Anthrax

Cutaneous: Most anthrax infections occur when the bacterium enters a cut or abrasion on the skin, such as when handling contaminated wool, hides, leather or hair products (especially goat hair) of infected animals. Skin infection begins as a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite but within 1-2 days develops into a vesicle and then a painless ulcer, usually 1-3 cm in diameter, with a black necrotic area in the center. Lymph glands in ...

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References

Abraham D. Sofaer, George D. Wilson, and Sidney D. Dell, The New Terror: Facing the Threat of Biological and Chemical Weapons (Stanford, Cal.: Hoover Institution, 1999), pp. 79-81.

Anthony H. Cordesman, Asymmetric and Terrorist Attacks with Biological Weapons (Washington, D.C.: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2001), pp. 74-76

Daniel J. Dire, "CBRNE-Biological Warfare Agents," eMedicine Journal, Vol. 2, No. 7 (July 3, 2001), Section 2.

U.S. Department of Defense. News Release. Defense Link. "Accelerated Anthrax Vaccination Program to Enhance Force Protection Announced," March, 1998.

U.S. Department of Defense. Defense Link. " Information Paper; DOD Biological Warfare Threat Analysis," 1998.

USAMARIID. (2001) "History of Biological Warfare," http://www.gulfwarvets.com/biowar.htm.

Nova (2001) "Bioterror," http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bioterror/agents.html

U.S. General Accounting Office, Bioterrorism: Federal Research and Preparedness Activities, GAO-01-915, September 2001, pp. 15-16.