Symptoms, Transmission, And Treatment: What Is Anthrax?

Anthrax, while a common concern for those working with animals and livestock, is easily treatable and generally not worthy of public worry at this time.

Anthrax, until the era of biological warfare, has been a concern only to those involved with the herding, slaughter and skinning of livestock. It was, in fact, responsible for innumerable plagues both modern and historical, and was, for one, likely the basis of the fifth and sixth Biblical plagues, which described the mass death of livestock and the appearance of boils. In the 17th Century, it was likely the cause of the "Black Bane" (not the Black Death), which killed more than sixty thousand cattle. Anthrax is not much of a concern for a modern-day plague because it is only really communicable once the host has died and begun to decompose; spores are not produced by living hosts, and so the disease is not contagious.

The bacterium Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent behind the disease, and it spreads itself by means of inactive spores that can potentially survive in soil for some hundreds of years. When these spores find their way to a suitable environment (such as host tissue), they germinate and divide, producing a great number of Bacillus anthracis bacteria in a relatively short period of time. These bacteria produce, as a byproduct, toxins deadly to humans and other animals, which will eventually kill the host and return to a soil or water source to continue contamination.

Outside of its threat as an occupational disease in animal handling, anthrax has been considered for application in biological warfare as far back as Japan's Manchurian campaign in World War II. Since then it has been appraised for other reasons than purely its deadliness. For one, the bacterium can survive temperatures up to 318 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for distribution via bomb. Its spores can also be distributed via aerosol, if processed suitably.

For those interested in practical defensive measures against the disease, one should remember that it is in fact highly treatable with antibiotics, if diagnosis is made in due time, and that the risk of contamination is at this time inexpressibly low. While the post-September 11th scare sent many people out in search of antibiotic stockpiles and other generally fruitless aids, the likelihood of dying to anthrax is considerably less than the likelihood of winning the lottery jackpot. As it is not a contagious disease, it is not of considerable concern to the mass populace.

Those who remain concerned or are simply curious may do well to know the following measures are effective against the bacterium and its spores. Many of these measures are currently under consideration in post handling, especially after the 2001 scare.

* Bleach (0.1% solution or stronger).

* Ultraviolet exposure (including extended exposure to daylight).

* Gamma radiation. This is a safe process used to cleanse and preserve food, though the hardiness of anthrax would require a marginally higher dose than that used to rid food of salmonella and other contaminants.

* Chlorine, and other chemicals used in water treatment and filtration. Chlorine dioxide was used in decontamination efforts in 2001 to great avail.

Other techniques are also effective, including ozone exposure and exposure to most treatment chemicals, like formaldehyde. Some less-than-legitimate sources have recommended the use of a microwave oven on suspicious mail and packages, but to achieve heat sufficient to kill the bacterium one would almost certainly do serious damage to any packages sent.

Considering the low risk of exposure, anthrax is not a serious threat to the average member of an industrialized nation, save those who are at exposure risk due to professions in veterinary medicine and livestock handling.

Trending Now

© Demand Media 2011