Anthrax
The threat of biological warfare is real. The September 11, 2001
attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. and the letters
contaminated with anthrax that killed five Americans and infected
many others, show the willingness of terrorists to murder large
numbers of people arbitrarily.
The disease
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease in humans and animals
caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax
cannot be spread directly from one infected person to another, but
the spores can be transported by clothing, shoes
etc. Symptoms of disease vary depending on how the
disease was contracted, but symptoms usually occur within 7
days.
The consequences
Anthrax is a highly lethal disease and treatment should be
started even without symptoms if possible contamination or exposure
is suspected. A delay in treatment of only a few days makes the
disease untreatable. If a person is suspected of having died from
anthrax, every precaution should be taken to avoid skin contact
with the potentially contaminated body and fluids exuded through
natural body openings. Full isolation of the body is important to
prevent possible contamination of others.
