What kind of bacteria is anthrax

Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Anthrax spores are infectious for a long time Anthrax in Victoria Anthrax is relatively rare Symptoms in humans Different types of anthrax infection A person with anthrax is not considered contagious Diagnosis methods Treatment options Eliminating anthrax from the environment Anthrax and bioterrorism The risk of bioterrorism is low Vaccination Where to get help Things to remember.

Anthrax spores are infectious for a long time Anthrax spores are infectious for long periods of time. Anthrax in Victoria In Victoria, outbreaks of anthrax among animals occur from time to time in the southern regions, and along the Murray and Goulburn rivers. Anthrax is relatively rare Anthrax is a relatively rare human infection.

The last confirmed human case of anthrax in Victoria occurred in February Symptoms in humans Symptoms of anthrax in humans depend on how the disease was contracted and include: Skin lesions Fever General malaise Headache Gastrointestinal upsets, such as vomiting Cough Flu-like symptoms Chest pain Joint pains.

Different types of anthrax infection Anthrax can target various body parts, including: Cutaneous anthrax — skin is the most commonly affected body part, occurring in about 95 per cent of cases. The bacteria enter the body via a cut or graze. The skin becomes itchy then develops a sore that turns into a blister.

The blister vesicle may break and bleed. Within two to seven days, the broken blister becomes a sunken, dark-coloured or black scab which is usually painless. Without treatment, the infection can spread to the lymph nodes or blood septicaemia.

Death is rare with the right antibiotic treatment. The mortality rate from untreated cutaneous anthrax is 5—20 per cent. Pulmonary anthrax — a rare lung infection that can occur when bacterial spores are inhaled. At first, the infection seems like a mild upper respiratory tract infection, such as a cold or flu.

Without treatment, the mortality rate is 70 to 80 per cent. In many cases, pulmonary anthrax is fatal even when treated. Intestinal anthrax — very rare in developed countries. It occurs if a person eats the undercooked meat of an infected animal, usually one that has died in the field.

Early symptoms include nausea, vomiting, vomiting blood, diarrhoea and high temperature. If the infection spreads to the blood septicaemia , the death rate is between 25 and 60 per cent.

A person with anthrax is not considered contagious Direct person-to-person spread of anthrax is extremely unlikely to occur. Diagnosis methods Anthrax is diagnosed using a number of tests, including: Skin tests Blood tests Chest x-rays Spinal tap lumbar puncture of the cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment options Treatment for anthrax must be commenced urgently. Eliminating anthrax from the environment The Department of Health works closely with the Department of Primary Industries to investigate anthrax cases.

Some strategies include: Inform the Department of Primary Industry of the case. Treat symptomatic animals with antibiotics. Vaccinate all animals that are at risk and re-immunise annually. Deeply bury animal carcasses with quicklime at the site of death, if possible, or cremate. Do not perform an autopsy. Do not burn in an open field. Decontaminate soil on infected farms with five per cent formalin. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

Learn More Related Issues Specifics. See, Play and Learn Images. Research Clinical Trials Journal Articles. Resources Find an Expert. For You Patient Handouts. They are Cutaneous, which affects the skin. People with cuts or open sores can get it if they touch the bacteria. Inhalation, which affects the lungs. You can get this if you breathe in spores of the bacteria.

Gastrointestinal, which affects the digestive system. You can get it by eating infected meat. It can also occur in humans when they are exposed to the bacterium, usually through handling animals or animal hides.

There are three forms of anthrax infection: cutaneous skin , inhalation lungs and gastrointestinal stomach and intestine. If people have been intentionally exposed, as in a bioterrorist release, contact with skin would be the most likely route of exposure. Breathing in the spores that have been spread through the air could cause inhalation anthrax. Anthrax can be found around the world. It is most common in agricultural regions where it occurs in animals. It is more common in developing countries or countries without veterinary public health programs.

It has been extremely rare in the United States in recent decades, and until cases in Florida and New York City in , has been limited to the cutaneous skin form. When anthrax affects humans, it is usually due to an occupational exposure to infected animals or their products.

However, anthrax is considered to be one of a number of potential agents for use in biological terrorism. Anthrax is usually spread in the form of a spore. A spore is a dormant form that certain bacteria take when they have no food supply. Spores can grow and cause disease when better conditions are present, as in the human body. Anthrax is generally spread in one of three ways.

Most persons who are exposed to anthrax become ill within one week but can take as long as 42 days for inhalation anthrax:. Symptoms usually develop between one and seven days after exposure but prolonged periods up to 42 days for cutaneous skin anthrax and 60 days for inhalation anthrax are possible, though rare.

Inhalation lung anthrax is not spread from person to person. Even if you develop symptoms of inhalation anthrax, you are not contagious to other persons. If you develop cutaneous skin anthrax, the drainage from an open sore presents a low risk of infection to others.

The only way cutaneous skin anthrax can be transmitted is by direct contact with the drainage from an open sore. Anthrax is not spread from person to person by casual contact, sharing office space or by coughing and sneezing.