Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Anthrax

 This disease was known for giving a massive scare to the US back in 2001. Anthrax is a type of fungi bacteria that develops in soil. It can be spread by breathing them in, touching anthrax infected animals or materials, and by skin exposure (A cut or opening in your skin). The disease itself isn't common for humans but rather for animals. Animals which graze on Anthrax infected grass/soil, can be infected. Anthrax isn't contagious and cannot spread unless you have direct contact with the spores. If infected, you have to take anti-biotics like penicillin. 

  A terrorist attack to the US was probably the most notable event for Anthrax. Two notes were sent, one to a major media center and another to Senators. The Anthrax letters were believed to be from Princeton, New Jersey. Many people were killed and others were infected. Hearing of this attack, major precautions were made to the President and civilians stocked up on anti-biotics. One of the most commonly used anti-biotics was Ciprofloxacin.

 What makes Anthrax so dangerous? The symptoms for Anthrax would seem like a symptom for a different disease. If spores were swallowed then you would vomit and have a loss of appetite. If you breathed it in then you would have problems with breathing. If your skin was infected then it would look like a bug bite. Death would happen 1-2 days after the symptoms appear. It is hard to notice if a place is infected by Anthrax because it isn't visible to the eye. These days Anthrax isn't common because most places are treated and medicine is available, because of this, it is a minor health risk. 

2 comments:

Eitazul said...

Do you remember one of the episodes in Criminal minds that deals with anthrax.?

Booyaya said...

I thought you're talking about heavy metal band named Anthrax..

Luv Booy

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