What is Anthrax?
photo taken from wikipedia.org
Anthrax is an acute disease in humans and animals that is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. This disease is highly lethal in some forms and has many effective vaccines available. Some forms of anthrax also respond well to antibiotic treatment. It is one of a few that can form long-lived spores. Spores can be found on every continent besides Antarctica. When they are ingested, inhaled, or come in contact with a skin lesion, they reactivate and multiple rapidly.
Anthrax has been used as a component of terrorism in recent years. As a response, the US Postal Service sterilized mail using a process of gamma irradiation and treatment with a proprietary enzyme formula. To learn more about the treatment and vaccines of Anthrax, visit Wikipedia.org’s article, Anthrax.
