Infectious diseases are
dangerous for human health and have severe consequences. One of the threatening
diseases is anthrax, an infection by bacteria, Bacillus anthracis and normally
spread through animals. But it is not transmitted through person to person.
Persons suffering from Anthrax may develop skin, lung,
and bowel disease and these can be fatal. There are four types of anthrax that
include cutaneous, inhalation, gastrointestinal, and injection.
In simple words, humans can catch anthrax in three ways.
The most common is infection through the skin, which results in an ugly, dark
sore. Both humans and animals can ingest anthrax from corpses of dead animals
that have been contaminated with anthrax. The most lethal form is inhalation
anthrax. If the spores of anthrax are inhaled, they migrate to lymph glands in
the chest where they multiply, spread, and produce toxins and can be deadly.
Humans that are higher risk to anthrax include
veterinarians, livestock producers, and travellers to areas where anthrax is
prevalent, handlers of animal products, and laboratory persons that involve in
researching anthrax, mail handlers, and military personnel. Major sources of
infection are contact with spores through tissues of infected animals such as
cattle, sheep, goat, contaminated hair, wool, hides, soil associated with
infected animal, inhalation of aerosolised spores, and ingestion of
contaminated undercooked meat.
When infected with anthrax disease, individuals must seek
medical consultation from infectious-disease specialist. Diagnosis can be
done through gram staining, test of
infection skin, blood testing, CT scan and chest X rays, lumber puncture,
endoscopy of intestine of throat.
Anthrax is a treatable disease through antibiotics. But
health reports indicated that gloomily, major jeopardy of this infectious
disease is through a bioterrorist attack or by biological warfare.
Anthrax can be prevented through sterilizing hair, wool,
bone meals, or other feed of animal origin before processing. It is recommended
to avoid working with raw animal hides, fur or skin. Persons should not eat
meat which has not been properly cooked. Health personnel working with Anthrax
should wear respiratory equipment. They should use protective clothing and
equipment while handling patients of Anthrax such as rubber gloves, rubber
Apron, and rubber boot with no perforation.
To sum up, anthrax is mainly an herbivores infection and
humans are infected with direct or indirect contact with animals. This illness
can be deadly if not treated immediately. Anthrax treatment is done through
antibiotic therapy. It is important for government bodies to perform effective
surveillance in order to prevent and control anthrax disease.
Important: This article is developed through environmental information and personal view of writer. Writer is not responsible for any disagreement.
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