Anthrax is a disease caused by the gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. This type of bacteria is mostly lethal. Anthrax is not contagious, meaning it cannot be transmitted from person to person. This disease mainly affects animals such as sheep, cattle and goats, when they come in contact with or ingest contaminated spores in plants, water, or the soil. However, humans can become infected when Anthrax spores get inside the body and begin to multiply. The bacteria cells begin to produce toxins that cause serious illness or death. Bacillus anthracis can get into the human body if we eat contaminated meat, drink water or breathe air containing Anthrax spores. Humans can also become infected if the spores enter the body through an open cut or sore. …show more content…
If an animal or human shows symptoms of having the disease they can be tested by taking swabs of the nose or wound, or taking a blood sample, and sending it to a laboratory to be analyzed and tested for Bacillus anthracis. Symptoms of Anthrax vary since there are three possible ways of contracting the disease. Cutaneous, meaning it was contracted through a cut or wound, often presents itself through symptoms such as swelling and a raised itchy bump that develops into a painless sore with a black center. Symptoms for gastrointestinal Anthrax include vomiting, fever, swollen neck, and severe bloody diarrhea in the later stages of the illness. Inhalation Anthrax may be shown through shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and as the disease progresses meningitis and trouble