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New Mexico State University

Anthrax Information and Facts

Anthrax
by Bruce Lawhorn
The Texas A&M University System

Anthrax (also known as wool sorters disease, malignant pustules, milzbrand, charbon and splenic fever) is one of the oldest and most destructive dis-eases of livestock. It is found worldwide, and severe outbreaks have been recorded since Medieval times. Anthrax kills both animals and humans.

Anthrax has great economic importance to the livestock industry. It is most common in food ani-mals, but can affect many warm-blooded animals. Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The bacterium forms spores (the dormant stage) that are extremely resistant to temperature, sunlight, dry-ing and chemical disinfectants. These spores can live in the environment for years, especially in alkaline soils containing lots of nitrogen and organic matter. When the spores enter an animal (by ingestion or other means), they change to the disease-causing form, multiply and release potent toxins.

Secondary outbreaks can occur when animals and people come in contact with contaminated animal hides, milk, meat, wool, or feed or fertilizer that con-tain animal products.

For the full article go to http://agpublications.tamu.edu/pubs/as/e104.pdf.
The facts about anthrax
October 12, 2001
Page 4A
By Anita Manning
USA TODAY

The mystery surrounding the anthrax contamination of the American Media Inc. building in Boca Raton, Fla., is raising questions and concerns about the threat posed by a microbe that has been plaguing animals and mankind for thousands of years. Here, experts provide some answers:

Q: In what form does anthrax come?
A: In nature, it's found in spores in soil around the world. In order to be used as a weapon, it would most likely be sprayed in the form of a fine liquid mist. It can also be dried and mixed with powder, but would not cause illness unless the powder were sniffed or inhaled. In the laboratory, scientists grow the anthrax-causing bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, in a liquid. ''There are various recipes but it's essentially a beef broth with a couple of other nutrients,'' says microbiologist Ronald Atlas of the University of Louisville.
Q: How can people be infected with anthrax?
A: Three ways, and all can be fatal. By eating undercooked meat from infected animals, you can get a gastrointestinal form of anthrax. It's very rare, at least in the United States, and it is almost always fatal. Contact through scrapes or cuts with spores that may cling to animal hides or wool can cause cutaneous, or skin anthrax, which produces lesions and swelling. It's usually easily detected and successfully treated with antibiotics, but if untreated proves fatal in about 20% of cases. Inhaled anthrax, the most likely form for use in bioterrorism, is fatal in 80%-90% of cases unless treatment begins before the first symptoms occur.
Q: How can you tell if someone has inhaled anthrax?
A: Symptoms can begin as long as 60 days after exposure, but usually appear within 7-10 days. They include fever, malaise, fatigue and sometimes a dry cough. Then, there's often a period of improvement that lasts from a few hours to two or three days. That's followed by a crash -- trouble breathing, sweating, bluish discoloration of the skin. The patient usually goes into shock and dies 24-36 hours after the severe symptoms begin.
Q: Why aren't the two anthrax-exposed, co-workers of the man who died getting sick?
A: Because their exposure was very slight. ''It takes a certain dose,'' to kill, says veterinary specialist Will Hueston of the University of Minnesota. ''One spore or a small exposure is not enough to cause disease.'' Some studies estimate the number at between 2,500 to 55,000 spores, he says. ''You're talking about a pretty good exposure.''
Q: What antibiotics work against anthrax?
A: Most natural strains of anthrax are sensitive to penicillin. But because it might be possible to create a genetically engineered form of anthrax that resists penicillin, doctors usually treat patients potentially exposed to anthrax with either doxycycline or ciprofloxacin.
Q: Why can't we get vaccinated against anthrax?
A: The only company in the USA licensed to make anthrax vaccine, BioPort Corp. of Lansing, Mich., has not yet received Food and Drug Administration clearance for its renovated manufacturing facility, reportedly because of problems relating to packaging standards. Even when it does receive approval, the stock is only going to be available to the military.
HOW TO HANDLE ANTHRAX AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL AGENT THREATS
October 14, 2001
CDC Health Advisory

Many facilities in communities around the country have received anthrax threat letters. Most were empty envelopes; some have contained powdery substances. The purpose of these guidelines is to recommend procedures for handling such incidents.

DO NOT PANIC
  1. Anthrax organisms can cause infection in the skin, gastrointestinal system, or the lungs. To do, so the organism must be rubbed into abraded skin, swallowed, or inhaled as a fine, aerosolized mist. Disease can be prevented after exposure to the anthrax spores by early treatment with the appropriate antibiotics. Anthrax is not spread from one person to another person.
  2. For anthrax to be effective as a covert agent, it must be aerosolized into very small particles. This is difficult to do, and requires a great deal of technical skill and special equipment. If these small particles are inhaled, life-threatening lung infection can occur, but prompt recognition and treatment are effective.

Suspicious Unopened letter or PACKAGE MARKED WITH THREATENING MESSAGE SUCH AS "ANTHRAX":
  1. Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package.
  2. PLACE the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container to prevent leakage of contents.
  3. If you do not have any container, then COVER the envelope or package with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this cover.
  4. Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).
  5. WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.
  6. What to do next... If you are at HOME, then report the incident to local police. * If you are at WORK, then report the incident to local police, and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.
  7. LIST all people who were in the room or area when this suspicious letter or package was recognized. Give this list to both the local public health authorities and law enforcement officials for follow-up investigations and advice.

Envelope with powder and powder spills out onto surface:>
  1. DO NOT try to CLEAN UP the powder. COVER the spilled contents immediately with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this cover!
  2. Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).
  3. WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.
  4. What to do next...
    If you are at HOME, then report the incident to local police. * If you are at WORK, then report the incident to local police, and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.
  5. REMOVE heavily contaminated clothing as soon as possible and place in a plastic bag, or some other container that can be sealed. This clothing bag should be given to the emergency responders for proper handling.
  6. SHOWER with soap and water as soon as possible. Do Not Use Bleach Or Other Disinfectant On Your Skin.
  7. If possible, list all people who were in the room or area, especially those who had actual contact with the powder. Give this list to both the local public health authorities so that proper instructions can be given for medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials for further investigation.

QUESTION OF ROOM CONTAMINATION BY AEROSOLIZATION: For example: small device triggered, warning that air handling system is contaminated, or warning that a biological agent released in a public space.
  1. Turn off local fans or ventilation units in the area.
  2. LEAVE area immediately.
  3. CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).
  4. What to do next... If you are at HOME, then dial "911" to report the incident to local police and the local FBI field office. If you are at WORK, then dial "911" to report the incident to local police and the local FBI field office, and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.
  5. SHUT down air handling system in the building, if possible.
  6. If possible, list all people who were in the room or area. Give this list to both the local public health authorities so that proper instructions can be given for medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials for further investigation.

HOW TO IDENTIFY SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES AND LETTERS
Some characteristics of suspicious packages and letters include the following...
  • Excessive postage
  • Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
  • Incorrect titles
  • Title, but no name
  • Misspellings of common words
  • Oily stains, discolorations or odor
  • No return address
  • Excessive weight
  • Lopsided or uneven envelope
  • Protruding wires or aluminum foil
  • Excessive security material such as masking tape, string, etc.
  • Visual distractions
  • Ticking sound
  • Marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or "Confidential"
  • Shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address