What is anthrax?

What is anthrax?

Anthrax is a serious disease caused by a relatively rare bacterium. The bug responsible for anthrax has been known for thousands of years and goats, sheep and cattle in parts of Africa, southern Europe and Asia sometimes carry its wild form.

Why is it in the news?

Anthrax is one of a handful of bacteria and viruses that have been developed for use in biological warfare. The anthrax bug is an ideal, low-cost terror weapon and has been sent in letters through the US postal service.

How common is it?

Naturally-occurring anthrax is very rare and in the past was usually only seen in people handling farm animals, hence its alternative name, wool sorter's disease. There have been about 14 cases in these islands in the past two decades and the last anthrax death in Britain was in 1974.

Then why are people getting sick from anthrax now?

A cultivated form of the bacterium, described in the US as "weapons grade" anthrax, has been circulated through the post to some branches of the US media and to a senior politician. While the person or group behind these attacks is as yet unknown, there was a clear intent to cause disease and possible death through anthrax infection.

How do you catch it?

There are three forms of the disease, all caused by the same bacterium. The form you get depends on how the bacterium enters the body. If the bug gets into a cut or break in the skin you get the cutaneous form. There is an ingested form caused by eating food contaminated with anthrax.

The most dangerous form is inhaled anthrax, where the bug or the spores it produces are breathed in, causing an infection deep inside the body.

What are the symptoms?

A rash and sores on the skin occur in cutaneous anthrax, with a risk that the infection could spread into the blood.

Ingested anthrax will give symptoms of stomach upset and then more severe illness within a week of eating it.

With the inhaled form the person gets symptoms similar to a common cold with a slight cough within a week.

How dangerous is it?

Without quick treatment, inhaled anthrax will kill about 90 per cent of those who get it. Ingested anthrax is fatal in 50 per cent to 60 per cent of cases. Cutaneous anthrax is most easily treated but it can still kill up to 20 per cent of those exposed to it.

How is the disease treated?

Anthrax kills because as the bacterium grows and divides it releases a powerful toxin, a poison that is difficult to counteract. Fatalities can only be prevented with rapid antibiotic therapy, which must start as soon as possible after exposure.

How easily does the disease spread?

Unlike a cold or the flu, anthrax does not spread by person-to-person contact. The bacterium or its spores must enter the body to cause illness. A letter containing anthrax spores could potentially infect the person opening it and possibly those nearby who touch or inhale the powder.

What about spraying the bug?

Anthrax spores could be sprayed from a hand-held container or by aircraft. People exposed to this sort of attack would be aware of the danger.

What should I do if I discover a letter that contains powder?

Put the letter down, do not handle it again and cover it. If at home, wash hands immediately and if in an office alert security staff who will contact the garda∅. Warn co-workers to keep away. Fuller details are available in the Government's anthrax emergency plan found on the Department of Health and Children web site at http://www.doh.ie.

Further in-depth information on anthrax, its effects and recommended precautions, is available on the Irish Times website at: www.ireland.com/ com/special/usattack/