In the attacks, someone purposely spread anthrax through the U. This killed five people and made 22 sick. Anthrax is rare. It affects animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats more often than people. People can get anthrax from contact with infected animals, wool, meat, or hides. It can cause three forms of disease in people. They are. Antibiotics often cure anthrax if it is diagnosed early. But many people don't know they have anthrax until it is too late to treat.
Twenty-two people developed anthrax after being exposed to spores sent through the mail, and five of those infected died. More recently, in two separate outbreaks, heroin users in Europe contracted anthrax through injecting illegal drugs. A total of 40 people died.
Heroin sold in Europe likely comes from areas where naturally occurring anthrax is more common. To contract anthrax, you must come in direct contact with anthrax spores.
This is more likely if you:. To prevent infection after being exposed to anthrax spores, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends:.
An anthrax vaccine is available for certain groups of people. The vaccine doesn't contain live bacteria and can't lead to infection. However, the vaccine can cause side effects, ranging from soreness at the injection site to more-serious allergic reactions. The vaccine isn't intended for the general public. Instead, it's reserved for military personnel, scientists working with anthrax and people in other high-risk professions.
If you live or travel in a country where anthrax is common and herd animals aren't routinely vaccinated, avoid contact with livestock and animal skins as much as possible. Also avoid eating meat that hasn't been properly cooked. Even in developed countries, it's important to handle any dead animal with care and to take precautions when working with or processing imported hides, fur or wool.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Anthrax is a rare but serious illness caused by a spore-forming bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. Cutaneous anthrax Open pop-up dialog box Close. It is more common in developing countries or countries without veterinary public health programs.
It has been extremely rare in the United States in recent decades, and until cases in Florida and New York City in , has been limited to the cutaneous skin form. When anthrax affects humans, it is usually due to an occupational exposure to infected animals or their products.
However, anthrax is considered to be one of a number of potential agents for use in biological terrorism. Anthrax is usually spread in the form of a spore. A spore is a dormant form that certain bacteria take when they have no food supply. Spores can grow and cause disease when better conditions are present, as in the human body. Anthrax is generally spread in one of three ways. Most persons who are exposed to anthrax become ill within one week but can take as long as 42 days for inhalation anthrax:.
Symptoms usually develop between one and seven days after exposure but prolonged periods up to 42 days for cutaneous skin anthrax and 60 days for inhalation anthrax are possible, though rare. Inhalation lung anthrax is not spread from person to person.
Even if you develop symptoms of inhalation anthrax, you are not contagious to other persons. If you develop cutaneous skin anthrax, the drainage from an open sore presents a low risk of infection to others. The only way cutaneous skin anthrax can be transmitted is by direct contact with the drainage from an open sore.
Anthrax is not spread from person to person by casual contact, sharing office space or by coughing and sneezing. Anthrax is diagnosed when the Bacillus anthracis bacterium is found in the blood, skin lesions or respiratory secretions by a laboratory culture. The document is available for download in multiple languages below. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. What is Anthrax? Minus Related Pages. How animals get infected with anthrax Domestic and wild animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, antelope, and deer can become infected when they breathe in or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water.
0コメント