Anthrax: A Public Health Concern

Paper Summary:

Anthrax, which is caused by a spore-forming bacterium called Bacillus anthracis, actually occurs as an acute and infectious disease, and is generally found in animals, both wild and domestic. This paper examines how the disease spreads, its different forms, its symptoms and its prevention. In particular, it looks at how it is used as part of bioterrorism.

From the Paper:

"Anthrax is termed a zoonotic disease (meaning that it is acquired by people from animals) (Brachman & Friedlander, 1994). The earliest accounts of humans getting this disease are thought to be caused by anthrax dating from the Fifth Egyptian Plague, which was 3500 years ago (Brachman & Friedlander, 1994). During the Middle Ages, anthrax, which was then called "The Black Bane," actually killed very large numbers of people and animals over in Europe. At that time, there was no understanding of the disease, and there was no vaccine (Brachman & Friedlander, 1994). Much like the bubonic plague, people simply did not seem to understand how the disease worked or how they should prevent it."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brachman PS, Friedlander AM. Anthrax. In: Plotkin SA, Mortimer EA, eds. Vaccines. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1994:729-739.
• Braun PC, Zoidis JD. Treating and preventing anthrax. RT Magazine. October/November 2001; 14:15-21.
• Cieslak TJ, Eitzen EM Jr. clinical and epidemiologic principles of anthrax. Emerg Infect Dis. 1999; 5:552-555.
• Pile JC, Malone JD, Eitzen EM, Friedlander AM. Anthrax as a potential biological warfare agent. Arch Intern Med. 1998; 158:429-434.
• Update: investigation of anthrax associated with intentional exposure and interim public health guidelines, October 2001. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2001; 50:889-893.

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