What Is Anthrax Disease?

Yeditepe University Specialized Hospital, Infectious Disease Specialist Prof. Dr. Meral Sönmezoğlu answered those who were curious.

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease that affects especially herbivorous animals, that is, people and animals can infect each other. In humans, it can be caused by contact with infected animals or animal products.

The bacterium, which is the agent of anthrax, is mainly transmitted to humans from domestic and/or wild animals, their products. This problem, which has been decreasing in the world but still cannot be completely eliminated, continues to threaten life especially in developing countries.

There are 3 types according to the route of entry into the body.

Prof. Dr. Meral Sönmezoğlu gave the following information: "bacillus anthracis", which causes anthrax, is a genus of bacteria in the form of sticks or sticks, inactive and reproduced by sports.

According to the way the sport enters the body, it finds three clinical types: skin, gastrointestinal, and lung. In recent years, it is considered the fourth way.

Skin anthrax accounts for more than 95 percent of cases, with spores entering through cracks and abrasions in the skin.

Who is at Risk for Anthrax?

• Livestock workers
• Shepherds
• Butchers
• Slaughterhouse workers
• Employees in the leather industry
• Veterinarians
• Located in areas where the disease is common, where dead animals are slaughtered, or where dead animals near settlements are buried.

How Is Anthrax Transmitted?

• Direct or indirect contact with anthrax animals,
• By contacting the meat of these animals during slaughter,
• By eating the flesh of these animals,
• By using products such as wool, skins, and hairs of anthrax animals in industry,
• With the importation of animal and animal products from the country where the disease is observed,
• During laboratory studies, etc.

What Are the Symptoms of Anthrax?

Symptoms of anthrax appear within 2-7 days after the microbe enters the body. Prof. Dr. Meral Sönmezoğlu gives the following information about the symptoms according to their type:

Leather Anthrax:

The most common type of anthrax in Türkiye is leather anthrax. Puffy, itchy swelling occurs at the place where the spores go into the skin. This swelling turns into a blister filled with water in 1-2 days and then into a painless wound, usually 1-3 centimeters wide, with characteristic black dead tissue in the middle. Swelling may also occur in the lymph nodes where the wound is located in the skin anthrax.

Gastrointestinal Anthrax:

The intestinal pattern, which is seen in 1-2 percent, starts with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and fever. These symptoms are followed by abdominal pain, bloody vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Situations where shock and loss of life may also occur.

Inhalation Anthrax:

Inhalation anthrax, with a prevalence of 1-2 percent, begins with symptoms similar to the common cold. High fever, and tremors are observed. The patient develops severe breathing difficulties and shock. This condition, the most severe form of anthrax, can result in the loss of life.

Early intervention is necessary for the success of the treatment!

Stating that there are effective antibiotics for the treatment of anthrax, Prof. Dr. Meral Sönmezoğlu said, "In order for the treatment to be successful, it is necessary to start the treatment as soon as possible. People who have symptoms of the disease should immediately contact the nearest healthcare provider. In the treatment of the disease, penicillin, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin effective antibiotics are used."

What to Do to Protect Yourself from Anthrax?

• Animals suspected of having anthrax or dying from anthrax should never be slaughtered or skinned.
• Animals that die from anthrax should be burned and destroyed if possible. It should be buried by opening two-meter-deep pits and pouring unslaked lime on it.
• The places where sick animals are located and the transport vehicles they are transported must be cleaned and disinfected.
• Dish materials such as feed materials, coasters, and fertilizers that are in contact with sick animals should be disposed of by burning.
• Animals should not be slaughtered, and their meat should not be consumed before the end of the observation and speaking quarantine period by the authorized units with the suspicion of disease.
• In risky areas, animals should be vaccinated with anthrax.