The germ warfare agent anthrax is a bacterium that, if inhaled, can kill a person in a matter of days. It sounds like science fiction, like something a mad scientist developed in a lab in hopes of taking over the world. In reality is an ancient disease of live stock and humans known since Biblical times. It just never made so many headlines before. Anthrax is an infectious disease known as Bacillus Anthracis. The bacterium can survive for centuries in a spore form. Their inside coating of armor allows
Anthrax is a very real and dangerous threat to all people who come in contact with it. The bacterial infection is caused by the bacteriaium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax is divided into three categories all are contracted in different ways. The first type is called Cutaneous Anthrax; this is where anthrax spores make contact with the skin. If there is a cut or a lesion then a person can be infected. Cutaneous Anthrax is the most common way to get anthrax, but is also the least lethal. The second type
Anthrax is an infectious disease. It can kill people. Getting anthrax is considered bioterrorism. Cause of Disease Anthrax I an infectious disease that is caused by bacterium bacillus anthracis. bacillus anthracis is a Gram-positive. A “Gram-positive bacteria are bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test, which is traditionally used to quickly classify bacteria into two broad categories according to their cell wall” as cited from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram-positive_bacteria
last decade, has become a real threat to the world. Since the anthrax attacks on American soil in 2001, the world has become aware of the potential risk of an anthrax attack. Anthrax is the disease caused by the Bacillus anthracis bacteria. Ever since early history, anthrax has occurred in livestock animals and in humans. The bacteria prevent the macrophages from communicating with the rest of the body. Thus, the body cannot fend of anthrax and slowly organs begin to deteriorate. However, a series of
Anthrax is one of the most preferred biological warfare agents for many highly identified reasons. First, anthrax is extremely lethal. Anthrax can contain up to 100 million lethal doses in just one gram of anthrax spores, which is 100,000 times more lethal than any other biological warfare agent. It is also known that inhalation anthrax is almost always fatal if the symptoms are allowed to progress without any treatment. Anthrax is also the silent and invisible killer. On top of the fatality rate
Anthrax is a bacterial disease instigated by the endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium Bacillus anthracis . Anthrax itself comes from the Greek word for coal, nthrax, attributable to the coal colored lesions that oftentimes develop on victims’ dermis. Though the sporadic disease most commonly affects animals in agricultural regions, it can sometimes infect humans and cause serious illness as well as both hypodermic and internal infections that can prove fatal to those infected. German microbiologist
recognizable (Chamberlain).” Anthrax is a rare bacterial disease that affects the skin and lungs. On September 18th 2001, letters containing lethal amounts of anthrax were mailed out. The deadly anthrax letters were sent out to people all over the United States. Even though the disease was not widely spread, the hysteria that festered in the American people still affects the USA today. On October 4th 2001 Bob Stevens is the first to open a letter containing Anthrax. A day later on October 5th,
terrorism in which anthrax was hidden in certain letters sent through the postal services. Anthrax, caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, is a common disease received by livestock but is usually very rare among humans in the United States. However, anthrax is a very dangerous disease when contracted by a person and can result in severe breathing problems and death. In the weeks following the 9/11 attacks, the population of the U.S. was jolted into mass fear and panic, and the anthrax attacks exacerbated
THE BIGGEST WAR in the Worlds history is waiting to strike. Anthrax is considered as the deadliest bioweapon known to mankind (Discovery News, 2012) . Anthrax is a silent killer; symptoms of flu layer the biological weapon. The first epidemic known as “Black Bane” was recorded in 1613, where the plague swept through Europe causing more than 60,000 recorded deaths (Siumed.edu, 2010). In recent cases, the silent killer, re-appeared in 2001, where air mail from Russia swept through a postal service
ANTHRAX Anthrax is a zoonotic bacterial infection that can be transmitted either through contact with affected animals or as a biological weapon (Jones 4). Its use in biological warfare has, however, been controlled and such cases are very few. The few cases have stirred the attention of most people, which has consequently increased public awareness in the disease. It normally affects ruminant animals such as cattle, horses, goats and sheep and then transmitted to humans. Humans cannot transmit the
Shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center September 11, 2001 there began a rash of Anthrax laced letters being sent through the United States Postal System. This form of Anthrax was sent as spores known as Bacillus Anthracis, the type of bacterium that causes Anthrax. This terrorist style act resulted in 22 cases of disease and 5 deaths (Walsh, Skane 2011). Anthrax is an extremely life threatening disease. It is a hard working and thorough bacterium. This bacterium becomes dormant and
week later a new attack started, the anthrax attacks. The attacks occurred over a span of weeks. Anthrax is a type of bacteria that produces spores, which can kill people very rapidly if infected. It is not always easy to diagnose due to its nonspecific symptoms. In this case it was used as biological weapon. The attacks were not known about for a period of time until multiple cases occurred. Many people and organizations would end up working on the anthrax attack investigation, which was codenamed
in the 6th Century B.C. More recent examples of bioterrorism include the anthrax inhalation from received mail in 2001 (Office of The Surgeon General). Although these are only recorded acts, there is a whole other story to what should happen once a victim is diagnosed with any type of bioterrorism and what treatment they should undergo, if one exists. For example, the medical response and treatment are different for anthrax, smallpox and tularemia. The medical response and treatment depend on the
not be able to enjoy a lot of the food and drinks that we consume daily without the threat of possibly becoming sick. Just a few of Pasteur’s contributions are the creation of pasteurization and the creations of vaccines to combat Rabies and the Anthrax disease. Louis Pasteur is a man of many accomplishments and is one of the biggest names in medical and scientific history. He’s benefited the world by his vaccinations and his creations of pasteurization alike. Louis Pasteur was born in the country
that can be aimed and controlled. These new weapons could end our species if they become advanced enough. In September of 2001, “biologist Bruce E. Ivins single-handedly prepared and mailed deadly anthrax spores that killed five people” (Warrick). In this case one biologist killed five people with anthrax. Imagine if a terrorist group developed an enhanced stain of a pathogen and released it, millions of people could die. Soon this will actually be a possibility. With the research into these pathogens
shortness of breath. This began the nationwide panic known as the Amerithrax Investigation. The Amerithrax investigation was said to be the worst biological attacks in all of US History. Three weeks later, on October 9th, two more letters, containing the anthrax bacterium was mailed to two Democratic senators. In all of the 7 attacks, over 22 people developed infections, over half being life-threatening. The letters themselves confused federal investigators. In the sets of letters addressed to the media,
A hidden threat against the USA is becoming more and more potentially catastrophic; bioterrorism is now almost unstoppable. With new technologies such as genetic engineering, pathology, and high tech electronics, an attack of bioterrorism could have a record breaking number of fatalities. The truth of the matter is that this is real and very dangerous. There are secret bioweapon research facilities all across the world being hidden right under our noses. The threat of bioterrorism against the USA
using biological weapons were primarily for defense from other countries. "Headquarters for research of bioweapons were established at Fort Detrick." (208) These research centers have been capable of increasing the hostility of a bacteria that causes anthrax. United States have also attempted creation of bubonic plague and tularemia bioweapons. U.S. scientists then became attentive on viral weapons, which are resistible to antibiotics. United States have grown viruses inside chick eggs as they need living
agents. Evidently, each agent has its own specific story. Ranging from the pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of each agent, all of these facets grant terrorists an even greater convenience to further exert their reign of terror. Anthrax In the pursuit of the “perfect” biological weapon, t... ... middle of paper ... ...y 2013. . Cole, Leonard, PhD. "Inquiry Regarding Bioterrorism." E-mail interview. 24 July 2013. Grey, Michael R., and Kenneth R. Spaeth. The Bioterrorism
The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston is an intriguing book that discusses the anthrax terrorist attacks after 9/11 and how smallpox might become a future bioterrorist threat to the world. The book provides a brief history of the smallpox disease including details of an outbreak in Germany in 1970. The disease was eradicated in 1979 due to the World Health Organization’s aggressive vaccine program. After the virus was no longer a treat the World Health Organization discontinued recommending