What is anthrax, and how does it relate to terrorism?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Biological agents include both living microorganisms and the toxins produced by organisms. Their effect on humans ranges from various degrees of illness to death. Compared with chemical agents, biological agents are generally slower-acting. Among the biological agents that could be used in a terrorist attack are smallpox, anthrax, plague, botulism, tularemia, hemorrhagic fevers, and Q fever.
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by a bacterium; it has a one- to six-day incubation period, although in some unusual cases incubation may take as long as eight weeks. In nonwarfare situations, it most commonly occurs in hoofed animals, but it can also infect humans. There are three types of anthrax, each with its own means of transmission.
In cutaneous anthrax, a cut or abrasion in the skin allows the anthrax bacterium to enter the body. This type of anthrax develops fairly rapidly: the incubation period can be one to seven days but is usually two to five days. There is no latent period for its development. Starting as a raised itchy patch resembling the site of an insect bite, it progresses into a red-brown bump that becomes filled with fluid and may be accompanied by local swelling. This ruptures the skin, creating a painless ulcer 1-3 centimeters wide. At the center, a black area emerges, caused by dying flesh. The affliction may be accompanied by fever and sweating. The affected skin dries and falls off in one to two weeks, often leaving no scar. Cutaneous anthrax can spread via the substantially clear fluid that oozes from the rupture site. Death is rare with appropriate antibiotic treatment, and even without it there is an 80%-95% recovery rate.
Intestinal anthrax is contracted by eating anthrax-contaminated meat that has been insufficiently cooked; it produces an acute inflammation of the intestines. Initial symptoms are nausea, vomiting (including vomiting of blood), fever, abdominal pain, and severe, bloody diarrhea. The incubation period is one to seven days. The mortality rate is estimated to be 25%-75%; the latter figure may indicate a lack of timely diagnosis and treatment.
Inhalation anthrax enters the body through the respiratory system; its usual incubation period is one to six days, but there have been a few latent cases that did not reveal themselves until six weeks after exposure. During the first one to three days after exposure, the physical symptoms are similar to those of a cold or flu; thus they are not very specific. They may include a sore throat, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, mild chest discomfort, and a dry, hacking cough. A period of brief improvement may follow, lasting from several hours to days. Then the symptoms return and quickly advance to severe respiratory distress, shock, and, typically, death. Death usually results within 24 to 36 hours after the onset of respiratory distress. Therefore, it is important to begin antibiotic treatment early. The effectiveness of treatment started after the onset of significant symptoms is limited, and mortality rates at this stage are estimated to be 90%-100%.
Inhalation anthrax is extremely unlikely to occur through person-to-person contact, so communicability is not a concern. The disease is spread by a deliberate act. Large amounts of high-quality, weapon-grade inhalation anthrax delivered in an aerosol form could produce horrific mass casualties. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends getting annual flu shots to facilitate early differential diagnosis because flu presents many of the same symptoms as does inhalation anthrax. There is a vaccination for the anthrax virus, but it is not yet available to the general public.