Anthrax is an acute zoonotic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It most commonly occurs in wild and domestic animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats, camels, antelopes, and other herbivores. B. anthracis spores
can live in the soil for many years.
It occurs in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or tissue from infected animals. The incubation period is usually 1-3 days. Anthrax is a notifiable disease.
Cause
- Exposure to B. anthracis spores by handling products from infected animals or by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products
- Anthrax can also be spread by eating undercooked meat from infected animals
Clinical features
Symptoms vary depending on how the disease was contracted, and usually occur within 7 days
TYPE | FEATURES |
---|---|
Cutaneous |
|
Inhalation |
|
Gastrointestinal |
|
Investigations
- Isolation of Bacillus anthracis from blood, skin lesions, or respiratory secretions
- Or measure specific antibodies in the blood of persons with suspected infection
Management
Cutaneous anthrax
- Treat for 7–10 days
- First line is ciprofloxacin 500 mg every 12 hours
- Alternatives: doxycycline 100 mg every 12 hours
- Or amoxicillin 1 g every 8 hours
If suspected systemic disease
- Refer for treatment with IV antibiotics
Note
- To be effective, treatment should be initiated early. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal
Prevention
The following public measures are key for quick prevention and control of anthrax infection:
- Health education and information
- Proper disposal by burying of carcasses, hides and skins; (no burning as it can spread spores)
- No skinning of dead animals; this allows spore formation, which can stay in soil for decades
- No eating of meat from dead animals
- Restrict movement of animals and animal by-products from infected to non-infected areas
- Mass vaccination of animals in endemic areas
- Vaccination using human anthrax vaccine for:
- Persons who work directly with the organism in the laboratory
- Persons who handle potentially infected animal products in high-incidence areas