...Anthrax Whitney Mikesell BIO 112 Anthrax is an acute infectious disease, which is potentially fatal, caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax is most commonly found to infect wild and domestic animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, camels, and other herbivores. But, it has been found to infect humans who are exposed to the infected animals or tissue from the infected animals. Although humans can be infected with anthrax and it is classified as a highly contagious disease it hasn’t been found to have spread from one human to another. The first mention of Anthrax as an illness actually appears in the Bible in Exodus chapter 9. It says that it was the fifth plague inflicted on Egypt. But, the best ancient account of anthrax is by the Roman poet Virgil (70-19 BC). He wrote four Georgics, instructive verse works on agriculture. The third Georgic is devoted to raising animals, and contains a passage on veterinary medicine that concludes with a detailed account of an epizootic that occurred in the district of Noricum, in the eastern Alps. Virgil describes the disease in sheep, cattle, horses, dogs, and other domestic and wild animals. Although the narrative contains errors and traces of poetic license, it includes many facts. Virgil understood the severity of the infecting source, as well as the potential for transmission of the disease to humans. Anthrax continued to be a fatal disease affecting both humans and animals through the Middle...
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...Anthrax Sindy Flores HCA 415 Community & Public Health Instructor: Tykeysha Boone November 9, 2012 Anthrax also known as Bacillus anthraces is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium. Anthrax spores can be produced in a powdery form for biological warfare. When inhaled by humans, these particles cause respiratory failure and death within a week. Because anthrax is considered to be a potential agent for use in biological warfare, the Department of Defense (DOD), in 1998, announced it would begin a systematic vaccination of all U.S. military personnel. (DOD, 1998) Anthrax infection occurs in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation, and gastrointestinal. What are the basic functions of the federal, state, and local level during this bioterrorism event? Preparing for and or recovering from a bioterrorism event, it is the federal government's responsibilities to helping to ensure the preparedness of emergency response providers for terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies, Working with other federal and nonfederal agencies to build a comprehensive national incident management system, and developing comprehensive programs for developing interoperative communications technology and ensuring that emergency response providers acquire such technology. ( CIDRAP) In a bioterrorism event, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has special responsibilities, including detecting the disease, investigating the outbreak,...
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...Anthrax has had a long, somewhat secret recorded history of use not only by others, but also our own government.The first recorded usage of Anthrax was with the Scandanavian Freedom Fighters (Supplied by German Military) to fight against the Russian Imperial Army in Finland in 1916.(Wikipedia) The Japanese Kwantung army had recorded testing of Anthrax as a weapon in the 1930’s.This new form of bio-terrorism was tested on Prisoners of war during the time. some of this testing involved intentional infection of prisoners of war, thousands of whom died. From then to about 1972, (When the U.S Signed the “Biological Weapons Convention”) the United States had stockpiled “Weaponized Anthrax” (FBI.gov) These “Weaponized stocks of anthrax in the US” were destroyed after President Nixon ordered the U.S Bio-warfare program to be stopped. The stock was eliminated in 1972. Later on, the Soviet Union created 200 tons of anthrax spores and stockpiled them at Vozrozhdeniya Island in Kantubek. “The stockpile was abandoned in 1992 and destroyed in 2002.” (Wikipedia). After the terrible day of September 11, Anthrax - laced letters started appearing in the U.S Postal Service. “Five Americans were killed and 17 were sickened in what became the worst biological attacks in U.S. history.” Because of this incident, the FBI created a specialized task force called “The Amerithrax Task Force” which spends countless hours in counter biological warfare. In recent years, Multiple types of Anthrax Vaccines...
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...Anthrax: Bacillus Anthracis Outline I. Introduction II. Definitions and Symptoms A. Bacillus anthracis B. Zoonosis C. Transmission: spores 1. Three types of entry 2. Three main types of anthrax D. Classified as a biological weapon 1. Biosafety level three 2. Anthrax not contagious between humans E. Cutaneous anthrax Symptoms F. Inhalation anthrax. G. Gastrointestinal anthrax. II. Origins of the Disease A. Ancient Mesopotamia B. Mention in The Iliad III. Ancient Manifestations, Views, and Causes IV. Ancient Treatments of Disease Symptoms A. Figs B. Anthrax control 1. Burning in Ancient Athens 2. Burning in 1600s 3. Burning Laws in Late 1600s V. Social Effects on Victims and Socioeconomic Impact on Society A. 2001 U.S. Postal Service anthrax incident B. Projected economic impact of a bioterrorist attack VI. Epidemic Outbreaks A. 1500 B.C. -- Fifth Egyptian plague B. 1600s -- "Black Bane" C. 1770 -- Haiti D. 1978-80 Human anthrax epidemic in Zimbabwe VII. Modern Causes of the Disease VIII. Current Treatments A. Historical Development of Modern Treatment Methods 1. 1877 Robert Koch 2. 1881 Louis Pasteur 3. 1937 Max Sterne 4. 1944 First use of penicillin to treat anthrax 5. 1979 Modern vaccine developed B. Treatment of Today IX. Anthrax as a Biomedical Weapon A. Modern threat B. 1916-1918 Mesopotamia...
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...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....
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...Bacillus anthracis is the bacterium that causes anthrax. According to the cdc.org Maret gave the first “clinical” reports of Anthrax in 1752. However, it is suggested that anthrax originated in Egypt in 700 BC (cdc.org). It was not until the 1800’s when Robert Koch wanted to discover what caused anthrax. Koch discovered that the specimens were rod-shaped bacteria. Bacillus anthracis is rod-shaped, Gram-positive bacteria, and has the ability to form endospores and are anaerobic (Bauman 695). Once inside the host an anthrax toxin is secreted that kills cells and another toxin creates edema (Bauman 695). There are four different ways to get anthrax: cutaneous, gastrointestinal, inhalation, and through injections (cdc.org). Although, our textbook only list three ways, injectable is fairly new and only been reported in Europe (cdc.org)...
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...Treating patients after a terrorist attack requires preparation also. The CDC has classified Anthrax as a high priority, Category A weapon due to its widespread infection area, high mortality rates, epidemic potential and the special preparedness it requires (Goel Ajay, 2015). Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax is often found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world (CDC, 2015). Biological agents are often chosen for bioterrorism because they are easy to obtain and inexpensive. Also the spores have high...
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...Only a few days after 9/11, several people fell victim to letters that were laced with anthrax. The alleged person, who was a prime suspect of releasing this bacteria was Dr. Bruce Edward Ivins; he committed suicide in 2008, so he was not able to and could not be prosecuted (Shane). I feel Dr. Bruce Ivins knew the people of the United States were already in panic because of the 911 attack, and he knew that lacing letter with anthrax would cause complete pandemonium in the United States. Anthrax is scientifically known as Bacillus anthracis (Johnston). There is a vaccine, but it is only available to those who are at higher risks; these people would include a mail handlers, soldiers, veterinarians because they could handle animals infected with the disease, or people who deal with livestock (Who Is at Risk). People that import animal hides and leather could also be at risk. One would have to be exposed to a source of anthrax spores that comes from contaminated water supplies or animals that are infected. There were 22 cases linked to anthrax (Johnston). This bacterium can be contracted either through inhaling, ingesting or through the skin, but the most deadly way of catching anthrax is inhaling it....
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...Anthrax letter attacks of 2001 The Anthrax letters that where sent out after the 9/11 attacks, these letters where laced with anthrax and sent to different Americans the FBI code named this biological attack as “Amerithrax”. The anthrax-laced letters killed 5 Americans and made 17 people sick. The letters started showing up September 18, 2001 about one week after the September 11 attacks occurred. “From mid-September to November 2001, a number of anthrax-laced letters were mailed to news media offices on the U.S. east coast and to the U.S. Congress. A total of 22 individuals contracted either cutaneous anthrax (11 cases) or inhalation anthrax (11 cases), and 5 died (all from inhalation anthrax). Anthrax cases included individuals at targeted locations (9 cases), postal service employees (9 cases), individuals who handle cross-contaminated mail (2 cases), and individuals with unpinpointed exposures (2 cases). An additional case of cutaneous anthrax occurred in March 2002 due to laboratory exposure to collected samples.” (Johnson, 2005. P.1). One of the first victims of the anthrax letters was Robert Stevens who worked at the Sun he died four days after getting exposed to the anthrax, he went to a hospital with unknown symptoms that included vomiting and shortness of breath. Two other letters where sent to Senators Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy. The letter that went to Daschle was opened by an aid and after opening it the government postal service was...
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...NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS ANTHRAX VACCINE AS A COMPONENT OF THE STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCKPILE: A DILEMMA FOR HOMELAND SECURITY by Thomas L. Rempfer December 2009 Thesis Advisor: Second Reader: Stanley Supinski Dean Lynch Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 2. REPORT DATE December 2009 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED Master’s Thesis 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Anthrax Vaccine as a Component of the Strategic National Stockpile: A Dilemma for Homeland Security 6. AUTHOR(S) Thomas L. Rempfer 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CA 93943-5000...
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...Following the deadly September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, the United States experienced the first cases of anthrax it had seen since 1978. The anthrax spores were found in letters sent to the American Media, Inc., building in Florida; the offices of Tom Brokaw of NBC News and Dan Rather of CBS News; and the offices of Senators Tom Daschle, Patrick Leahy, and Edward Kennedy in the United States Senate. There was a series of deaths, cutaneous infections, and hundreds of employees at these organizations who tested positive for exposure to the anthrax spores. In addition, there were at least two anthrax deaths for which the source of anthrax was not readily located. As a result of these exposures, from letters that were mailed on September 18, 2001, the most effective antibiotic for treating anthrax, ciprofloxacin, was in high demand. Bayer AG, a German company, owned the patent for this antibiotic, which it called Cipro. At the time the patent was slated to expire in December 2009. However, executives at headquarters for the company remained silent for weeks about the company’s ability to manufacture sufficient amounts of the patented antibiotic. Executives indicated that the company was concerned that if it appeared in the media it would give the appearance of taking advantage of the dire circumstances. Bayer’s history made it wary of any involvement in international battles. Bayer AG had to pay reparations following World War II and its patent for its...
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...Disease in the News Introduction to Health and Disease - HCS/245 October 28, 2013 This article is about Anthrax. It basically tells you about the disease. It starts out by explaining what Anthrax actually is, Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment, and Future Challenges. The article when it was written gave a through explanation to anyone who really didn’t know what Anthrax is all about. Sad to some people Anthrax is not a Heavy Metal from the 80’s. Anthrax is an often serious and fatal bacterial infection that occurs when Bacillus anthracis endospores enter the body through abrasions in the skin or by inhalation or ingestion. ("Anthrax", 2013). Anthrax can be found in soil in the natural sense and routinely affects wild-life around the world. Although it is rare, people can get ill with anthrax if they come in contact with infected or tarnished animals and its products. Severe illness can happen in both humans and animals if they get in contact with anthrax. The bacteria is not contagious, which means you still can’t get anthrax like the common cold or flu. As far as treatment goes the article does talk about how to treat the disease. There are several alternatives, including antibiotics and antitoxin, which doctors have for treating patients with anthrax. Unfortunately, the more serious case of anthrax, patients will need to be hospitalized. A more aggressive treatment may be required, such as a steady amount fluid drainage and...
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...Cockron Abstract Anthrax is a life threatening disease that harms not only animals, but humans as well. There are several types of anthrax and many different types of treatments to help cure them. Although some who are infected with anthrax do not always survive. Anthrax is not common in the U.S. but it does sometimes occur. Anthrax is nationally discussed in most of today’s disease trends. Disease in the News Following the 1998 reports of a series of bioterrorist threats of anthrax exposure, the public health implications of these threats were investigated to assist in developing national public health guidelines for responding to bioterrorism. The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed interim guidelines for managing anthrax in 2001. What follows is a summary of the investigational findings and subsequently published CDC guidelines for public health authorities regarding anthrax-related acts of bioterrorism (Matteucci, 2011). Anthrax is a life threatening infectious disease that normally affects animals, especially ruminants (such as goats, cattle, sheep, and horses. Anthrax can be transmitted to humans by contact with infected animals or their products. Anthrax is now rare in humans in the United States and developed countries. In recent years anthrax has received a great deal of attention as it has become clear that the infection can also be spread by a bioterrorist attack or by biological warfare. Anthrax does not spread from person...
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...paper Sherry Grant HCS 335 May 21, 2012 Holly Martinez De Andino Presidential Commission to Decide: Is Testing Anthrax Vaccine on Children Ethical? On May 10, 2012 the Presidential Commission of the Study of Bioethical Issues started their deliberations regarding a very important matter: Testing vaccinations and treatments on children. The ethical question is whether or not to begin pediatric studies to determine the effectiveness of Anthrax vaccines and other treatments to be used in the event of a bio terror attack. Upon reading an article in the Washington Post the debate was made clear to me as a reader and me as a parent. The largest debated issue related to the testing of vaccines on children is the overall safety of the children. It has been set forth by the government that studies only be considered in cases where the child will directly benefit from studies or if there are not enough results from adult testing and only if the affects are minimal for the pediatric participant (Associated Press, 2012). There are a great many tools to fight against some of the threats that worry defense experts but none of these outline the proper use on a child. Will these treatments in fact work for children as efficiently as they will work in adults? The National Bio defense Safety Board (which offers advice to the government) suggests that testing of the anthrax vaccine be done only if ethical experts deemed the testing to be appropriate. While this vaccine will not aid in a...
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...The ability to detect and prevent infectious diseases is a key component of our federal efforts to combat terrorism. As we sadly learned during the anthrax crisis in 2001, bioterrorism is a real threat. * Tom Davis Delete text and place photo here. Bioterrorism bY SIMI GEORGE faq’s What To Do if You Suspect a Bioterrorist Disease? IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY: * Hospital Infection Control Isolation: Smallpox, plague, hemorrhagic fevers, * Laboratory Hospital Administration * Local Public Health Department What We Need To Prepare for Bioterrorism? * More trained epidemiologists to speed detection * Increased laboratory capacity * Request security drills in schools and other public departments. For more information about bioterrorism and its effects, please contact: Simi George, R.N. (469)347-4236 Simicg2011@yahoo.com Enter Contact Information Here | 1127 Lombard Blvd. San Francisco, CA 59802 | phone 555.555.5555 | fax 555.555.5555 In this educational session you will learn: * Bioterrorism and its effects * The causes of Bioterrorism * The procedures during a bioterrorist attack * The right way to react during a bioterrorist attack * The procedures to take care of a person who is ill from the attack. Bioterrorism is defined as “the use of microorganisms or toxins derived from living organisms to cause death or disease in humans, animals, or plants in civilian settings” (Huxsoll...
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