Anthrax
is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium
Bacillus anthracis
. It can occur in humans when they have been exposed to contaminated animals or tissue from contaminated animals.
Anthrax is most frequently found in South and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. It has even been found in wild livestock in the United States, although it is rare. It is predominantly found in agricultural areas of these regions.
The bacteria can be transmitted to humans through inhalation, the skin, or ingestion. The bacteria can infect a human who breathes in spores from a contaminated animal, touches a contaminated animal (alive or dead), or eats undercooked meat from a contaminated animal.
Symptoms of anthrax include:
- Skin infection that initially looks like an insect bite then turns into an ulcer with black, necrotic skin in the center.
-
If the bacteria are inhaled, initial symptoms may seem like a common
cold
.
-
Anthrax that has been ingested causes severe abdominal cramping, vomiting, vomiting blood, nausea,
diarrhea
, and fever.
Anthrax is treated with antibiotics. If diagnosed and treated early, the disease may be cured. Without treatment or delays in starting medicine, anthrax can be fatal.
The anthrax vaccine doesn’t contain dead, weakened, or living bacteria. It is, instead, called a cell-free filtrate vaccine. This means that the bacteria used to make the vaccine cannot cause disease. This makes the vaccine extremely safe.
The vaccine also contains elements that allow for easy storage: aluminum, aluminum hydroxide in a solution of sodium chloride, benzethonium chloride, and formaldehyde.
It should be stored in a cool environment, 36 ºF-46 ºF, but it should not be frozen.
The vaccine is administered as three subcutaneous shots, given every two weeks. A follow-up shot is given at six, 12, and 18 months after the original injection. Booster injections of the vaccine are administered each year following the initial series.
The following individuals should get vaccinated:
-
Laboratory workers who may come into contact with
B anthracis
- People who come into contact with animal meat, hide, or fur that may have been exposed to anthrax spores
- People who work with animals and animal products in areas where anthrax infection commonly occurs (not common in the US)
- People in the military who run the risk of exposure to anthrax as a biological warfare weapon
The vaccine is administered as three subcutaneous shots, given every two weeks. A follow-up shot is given at six, 12, and 18 months after the original injection. Booster injections of the vaccine are administered each year following the initial series.
- Common, mild side effects include soreness or redness at the injection site
- A more severe reaction may be significant swelling in the arm where the shot was administered
-
Rare, but serious risks include systemic reaction, a condition usually associated with anaphylaxis, which can cause extreme allergic response, including interrupted breathing,
hives
, dizziness, and arrhythmic heart rate
- Other serious adverse events may also occur
Those who should not get vaccinated include:
- The general public who are not at significant risk of exposure to anthrax
- Very young children, the elderly, or people with compromised immune systems
-
Take precautions when dealing with animals or animal products that could possibly be contaminated with
B anthracis
.
- Begin a course of antibiotic treatment if you've been exposed to anthrax.
It is not believed that anthrax can be transmitted from person to person, but if an outbreak occurred and a large number of people were exposed to the bacteria, the US would administer antibiotics to everyone exposed.
