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| Emergency Medical Services and Trauma ● Health Alert Network ● Health Hotline ● Emergency Preparedness & Response |
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Anthrax Public Information Fact Sheet Description: Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused
by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most
commonly occurs in hoofed mammals and can also infect humans. Symptoms:
Symptoms of disease vary
depending on how the disease was contracted, but usually occur within 7
days after exposure. The serious forms of human anthrax are
inhalation
anthrax, cutaneous anthrax, and intestinal anthrax. Initial symptoms of inhalation anthrax infection may resemble a common
cold. After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing
problems and shock. Inhalation anthrax is often fatal. Infection:
The
intestinal disease form of anthrax may follow the consumption of
contaminated food and is characterized by an acute inflammation of the
intestinal tract. Initial signs of nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting,
and fever are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe
diarrhea. Direct person-to-person spread of anthrax is extremely unlikely, if it
occurs at all. Therefore, there is no need to immunize or treat contacts
of persons ill with anthrax, such as household contacts, friends, or
coworkers, unless they also were also exposed to the same source of
infection. Treatment:
In
persons exposed to anthrax, infection can be prevented with antibiotic
treatment. Early
antibiotic treatment of anthrax is essential–delay lessens chances for
survival. Anthrax usually is susceptible to penicillin, doxycycline, and
fluoroquinolones. Vaccination/Prophylaxis: An
anthrax vaccine also can prevent infection. Vaccination against anthrax
is not recommended for the general public to prevent disease and is not
available. This
material has been developed by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Reuse or reproduction of this material is authorized.
Information updated September 2001. More information can be found on the
CDC website at www.bt.cdc.gov.
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Emergency Preparedness & Response Section |
Copyright © 2005 North Dakota Department of Health |