Anthrax: A Biological Agent

The term Anthrax was widely known and terrified the recent generation after the September 11 terrorist attack. For the past 2 months, this concern has emerged in the buzz stream after some of the countries were receiving reports for a possible and alleged terrorist attack.

What is Anthrax?

With the unique trait, which normally develops a black skin infection by the victims, the term Anthrax as a disease was derived from it.  In Greek, Anthrax means “black coal”. It’s the bacteria that causes the skin lesion or may lead to death. The biologist named the bacteria as Bacillus Anthracis, a member of Genus Bacillus bacteria family.

Transmission and Prevention

These bacteria can be latent in a spores form or seedlike form. It is lethal to both humans and animals when it will be digested, inhaled, in contact with an affected person or even inoculation. The catchy things with anthrax, it doesn’t spread directly from one victim to another. These spores can transmitted through clothing, envelopes, capsules, wallet, socks, and shoes until it will be inhaled or digested. Anthrax generally infects herbivorous and wild mammals by digesting the spores or bacteria by simply grazing.  Carnivores get infected and also humans by consuming affected animals through digestion or contact. And the dead body of the victim can also be a source of the bacillus anthracis spores.

An infected human will normally be quarantined. And we can be infected through inhalations, ingestion, skin contact and same clinically symptoms depending on the site of entry. If infection is not quickly treated then it may be fatal. Anthrax vaccines licensed by US FDA, the Bio Thrax can aid in maintaining the immunity of the strain. And effective decontamination of its spores is washing antimicrobial soap and water. Waste water should be treated with bleached and the contamionated clothes or any materials containing the anthrax spores should be burned in the furnace. Burial does not kill the anthrax germs.  it may spread and contaminate the soil.

Biological Warfare

The 2001 Anthrax attack in several cities worldwide scares everyone for its impact and the danger it may bring. However, on the biological world, this is not young in that sense. The Vollum Strain of Anthrax produced on World War II was one of the most dangerous as they considered, but it was not used as a biological weapon. It was documented that anthrax was also tested to the prisoners of war, as a biological agent on 1930s. Many had been infected and died since 1930’s until the latest record incident last 2009 in New Hampshire.

It significant now, that Anthrax spores can and has been used as a biological weapon. And it was used as a bioterrorism attack in 2001, delivering the mailing postal letters containing the anthrax spores.  And the company where I worked by that time was also one of the recipients of the said letters.