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Anthrax is a highly infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthrasis bacterium, with three types: cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and inhalational. It can be used as a bioweapon due to its dormant spores and ease of inhalation. A vaccine is available but not widely used.
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by a Bacillus anthrasis bacterium. It became particularly prominent in 2001 when several human cases of anthrax were linked to deliberate exposure, raising concerns about the bacteria’s use as a bioweapon. This disease would make a rather effective bioweapon since the spores can lie dormant for many years, activating as soon as conditions become optimal, and it is very easy to contract the disease by inhalation, leading to potential mass dispersal via aircraft, explosives, or parcels random.
The disease was well known in the ancient world, as writings and archaeological evidence suggest. It primarily affects farm animals, with cases of human anthrax contracted from exposure to infected animals. Humans cannot pass the disease to one another, so it is not contagious, but exposure to just a few spores is required to lead to a serious infection. Like other bacterial infections, this condition is treated with antibiotics.
There are three types of anthrax: cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and inhalational. Cutaneous anthrax is contracted through cuts in the skin. It is characterized by a small sore that turns into a blister with a black center. It has a relatively high survival rate, especially if caught early. Gastrointestinal anthrax is a little more serious. It is caused by ingestion of infected material, such as undercooked meat. The patient may experience nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and severe fever; mortality rates from this form vary widely from 25% to 75%.
The most severe form is inhalation anthrax, caused by the inhalation of infectious spores that may be kicked up in soil, scraped up from animal material, or deliberately introduced into the environment. The fatality rate can be as high as 80%, with symptoms starting as a low-grade flu and developing into a cough. Because this form is relatively rare, it can be difficult to diagnose, especially when people are scared and overwhelm clinics with normal cold and flu symptoms.
An anthrax vaccine is available, although it is not widely used as the natural risk of contracting the disease is relatively low. People who work extensively with animals such as veterinarians and slaughterhouse workers may choose to be vaccinated, as can some microbiologists and researchers who may be exposed to Bacillus anthrasis in the course of their work. Active duty military personnel are also vaccinated, due to its potential use as a biological agent.
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