Abstract
Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. The disease can affect both humans and animals, although it is more common among livestock and wild animals. The objective of this seminar is to review on anthrax and its public health importance. The disease occurs in herbivorous animals either through inhalation or the spores during grazing. Carnivorous animals are infected by consuming the affected herbivorous animals, whereas, infection in humans usually occurs through contact with the spores either through ingestion, inhalation or direct contact. The disease does not spread from infected persons directly and spores are the source of infection; since the spores of Bacillusanthracis are extremely resistant to natural condition and can survive for several decades in the environment. The spore enters in to the body and causes serious outbreak in tropical and sub-tropical countries with high rainfall. The clinical sign of the disease are characterized by sudden death, fever, staggering and in human it is pulmonary, cutaneous and gastrointestinal forms. The disease is diagnosed by giemsa or polychrome methylene blue and culture. It is evident that control of the infected animals, prevention of contact with the infected animals and contaminated animal products are quite important to disease control. It is recommended that if an animal anthrax case is confirmed, the affected property is quarantined, potentially exposed stock vaccinated; dead animals buried and contaminated sites disinfected. Bacillus anthracis are susceptible to different antibiotics like penicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, tetracycline and erythromycin.
Citation
Ahmed M. Anthrax and Its Public Health Importance. SM J Public Health Epidemiol. 2018; 4(1): 1046.