Human Anthrax Infections Reach 327 Cases In Bangladesh

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Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Veterinary;  Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 06 Sep 2010 - 9:00 PDT

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According to Bangladesh's Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, 327 people have become infected with anthrax in five districts in the north of the country since August 18^th. Some experts believe two other districts may also be affected. So far, approximately 150 cattle have become infected and died. Local health officials say this is the largest anthrax outbreak in the history of Bangladesh.

Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium Bacillus Anthracis - anthrax is, in fact, the name of the disease, while Bacillus Anthracis is the name of the bacterium that causes the disease. The bacterium exists in animals that graze (eat grass), such as sheep and cows. It is more commonly found in the farming regions of Asia, South America, the Caribbean, Africa and southern/eastern Europe.

Bangladeshi authorities have ordered health officials to seek out all infected cows, which must be culled promptly.

Abdul Latif Biswas, Minister for Fisheries and Livestock, said to the BBC:

We have issued a red alert and asked livestock officials, civil surgeons and health workers to fan out to detect sick cows and cull them immediately.

Mr. Biswas added that about half-a-million cattle vaccine ampoules have been distributed to the affected areas.

Mahmudur Rahman, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, Bangladesh, said in a BBC interview:

This type of anthrax is not that much dangerous to humans because there's treatment available.

Bacillus Anthracis makes spores. These spores can stay in the soil for a very long time - they lay dormant. When the environment is right, they can germinate and cause infection - anthrax. They ideally germinate and cause infection in the:

• Skin (Cutaneous anthrax) Can be treated successfully with antibiotics if administered early enough
  
  Most common. Accounts for 95% of all anthrax infections. People at risk of infection may work in abbatoirs (slaughterhouses), tanning workshops, places preparing wool, hides or leather. The workers can become infected if they have a skin cut. There is only a risk if the animals had been infected.
  
  Symptoms are usually an ulcer that develops on the skin, about 1 to 3 centimeters wide. Within a week the center of the ulcer becomes black. Without treatment, a complication may be blood poisoning (20% death rate).
• Lungs (Inhalational anthrax)
  Can be treated successfully with antibiotics if administered early enough
  
  The bigger spores get stuck in the windpipe or throat. The smaller ones end up in the lungs. Hemorrhaging takes place as well as tissue decay.
  
  Symptoms are similar to a mild flu, which may include fatigue, weakness, high temperature, dry cough and a pain in the chest. Without treatment breathing becomes much more difficult and the patient's lungs start to bleed. If allowed to reach this stage the anthrax is generally fatal.
• Intestinal Anthrax
  Can be treated successfully with antibiotics if administered early enough
  
  This type of anthrax is a very uncommon type of food poisoning. It can happen after eating contaminated meat.
  
  Symptoms include nausea, high temperature, loss of appetite and vomiting. This develops into stomach pains, vomiting blood and severe diarrhea.
  
  This is the most fatal of the three anthraxes.

In all three cases the patient does not need to be quarantined.

Although we hear a lot about anthrax in the news, it is in fact, a very rare disease. It infects animals much more than it does humans.

Why is anthrax so often in the news?

Biological weapons are maintained by several countries around the world. Use of these weapons could cause widespread illness among unprotected military forces.

Anthrax is the biological weapon most likely to be encountered by military personnel because it is extremely lethal, easy to produce in large quantities, easy to store and not too difficult to develop as a biological weapon.

The worry today is that terrorists may one day use anthrax as a weapon.

Sources: Ministry for Fisheries and Livestock (Bangladesh), Medical News Today archives, BBC.

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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