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Bacillus Anthracis
General Information
Bacillus Anthracis (Anthrax) is a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria that naturally occurs in soil. Antrax is capable of being a very severe and deadly illness for both humans and animals. Humans can come into contact with Antrax via infected animals, or animal products. Antrax can also be used as a posion.
How Humans get Infected
People can get infected when anthrax spores enter the body; this is how thay "activate themselves." Once B. Anthracis enters the body, it multiplies rapidly, and produces toxins. There are three ways humans get infected:
- Breathing in Anthrax
- Eating/drinking food with Anthrax
- Spores entering through a cut/scrape
Where Bacillus Anthracis is Found
Anthrax can be found in many regions of the world, such as:
- Agricultural Regions
- Central and South America
- sub-Saharan Africa
- Central and Southwestern Asia
- Southern and Eastern Europe
- The Carribean
Bacillus Anthracis is rare in the U.S. Some sporadic outbrakes may occur in wild and domestic grazing animals. Such as cattle or deer. Anthrax is most common in countries that do not routinely vaccinate animals against anthrax. Animals in the U.S. are vaccinated annually.
Types of B. Anthracis
 There are four types of anthrax.
There will be a gloassary down below, you can click each word and it will take you to it's meaning.
Symptoms
Cutaneous anthrax symptoms can include:
- A group of small blisters or bumps that may itch
- Swelling can occur around the sore
- A painless skin sore (ulcer) with a black center that appears after the small blisters or bumps
- Most often the sore will be on the face, neck, arms, or hand
Inhalation anthrax symptoms can include:
- Fever and chills
- Chest Discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion or dizziness
- Cough
- Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains
- Headache
- Sweats (often drenching)
- Extreme tiredness
- Body aches
Gastrointestinal anthrax symptoms can include:
- Fever and chills
- Swelling of neck or neck glands
- Sore throat
- Painful swallowing
- Hoarseness
- Nausea and vomiting, especially bloody vomiting
- Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
- Headache
- Flushing (red face) and red eyes
- Stomach pain
- Fainting
- Swelling of abdomen (stomach)
Injection anthrax symptoms can include:
- Fever and chills
- group of small blisters or bumps that may itch, appearing where the drug was injected
- A painless skin sore with a black center that appears after the blisters or bumps
- Swelling around the sore
- Abscesses deep under the skin or in the muscle where the drug was injected
- Injection anthrax symptoms are similar to those of cutaneous anthrax, but injection anthrax can spread throughout the body faster and be harder to recognize and treat than cutaneous anthrax. Skin and injection site infections associated with injection drug use are common and do not necessarily mean the person has anthrax.
Gloassary
Cutaneous
Relating to or affecting the skin.
Inhalation
The action of inhaling or breathing in.
Gastrointestinal
The organs that food and liquids travel through when they are swallowed, digested, absorbed, and leave the body as feces.
Injection
Deliver liquid medications, fluids, or nutrients directly into a person's body.
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