Humans can be exposed to biological pathogens, microorganisms that can cause disease, in their environments. When pathogens are ingested, inhaled, or have encountered the dermis, then multiply, invading the body resulting in disease or death. Anthrax, Bacillus anthracis, is a bacterium that has been around for centuries, is found naturally occurring in soil, and causes skin, respiratory, or intestinal infections of humans and animals (Gould & Dyer, 2010, p. 345). During the bacteria’s time in the environment the bacteria’s spores are in a dormant state, until it becomes ingested or inhaled, becoming activated (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Once activated the bacteria spreads throughout the body, releasing toxins …show more content…
The small island was considered uninhabitable up to 1986 due to the continued finding of anthrax spores. For one year, Great Britain cleansed the island with a “mixture of formaldehyde and seawater”, until “the island was considered disinfected” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016).
Through the years following World War II, the United States created vaccines for troop protection, President Nixon ceased the bioweapon program, and over 100 nations agreed to a treaty for the destruction and prohibition of bioweapons. In 2001, following the Trade Center attack, letters were sent through the mail to the media and to congressional offices, that had microscopic spores on them (Federal Bureau of Investigation, n.d.). Inhalation of the spores and the lack of proper treatment lead to the death of five people, as well as 17 who were infected (Federal Bureau of Investigation, n.d.). Most of the individuals forwent treatment due to the symptoms that mimic other illness-flu, common cold symptoms, or upper respiratory infection, until it progressed, and help was sought. Symptoms may develop after a few days to a few months with antibiotics being used as treatment.
Public health surveillance is the continuous collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, which can be disseminated “to public health programs to stimulate public health action” (Thacker, Qualters, & Lee, 2012). Importation gathered by the surveillance can
The smallpox bioterrorism attack was made more successful when the FBI did not inform the local authorities and health agencies of the potential for an attack. This lack of information caused a delay in the medical community being able to respond quickly and effectively by isolating those exposed and assessing an immediate vaccination plan. People who were infected at the venue went about their lives and would later expose many others to smallpox. Since hospitals were not informed about a potential large-scale smallpox exposure they were not aware to be cautious for any symptoms associated with smallpox. This caused the first few smallpox patients to be misdiagnosed patients with things such as the flu and dengue fever instead. This time lapse
When the bacteria flow into the skin from a cut or scratch the infection occurs. Some anthrax infections occur from inhalation of the spores of the bacteria. Anthrax infections can also be contracted Gastrointestinal by eating infected meats that have not been properly cooked.
Smallpox is one of the most lethal virus’ known to man. It is devastating to individual systems, and it’s high level of contagion makes it a major threat to populations, as seen historically, before mass vaccination was available. For many years before an understanding about the virus was developed, thousands suffered and died from it, with no relief except perhaps that of a comforting nurse. As scientific inquiry advanced, so did the approach to dealing with the virus, beginning with its primitive inoculation, to it's eradication from the natural environment. In recent years, the study of the virus has lead to harnessing it in the laboratory with the constant threat of biological warfare. The virus now lays dormant in freezers of American
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax can occur in three different forms; skin, inhalation and intestinal. It is spread by contact with the bacteria spores, which are from infectious animal products. Usually contact occurs through breathing, eating or cut and does not spread between people.
The Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services works closely with the Office of Infectious Diseases when investigating through surveillance for possible domestic and foreign infectious diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1998), “[The objective is a] strong and coordinated system for surveillance and response in the United States and abroad, not only for foodborne disease but for other emerging infectious diseases as well” (p. 6). Infectious diseases are still a major problem, and still is the biggest cause of death worldwide. The CDC and all its departments work together to make the world a safer place to
Standard collection and provision of this sort of information can be used to develop, improve, monitor, and evaluate policies and programs targeted at controlling and preventing NCDs. However, sufficient commitment and funding for surveillance is necessary in nations across SEAR to experience the benefits of these systems. Adequate funding allocations in national budgets can help enhance the quality and frequency of national surveys (WHO, 2011b). Therefore, it can be fundamental for surveillance to be a national priority and for governments to commit to creating sustainable surveillance
Investigations trigger activities that work to decrease the spread of that particular disease along with decreasing the amount of cases that occur in the community (Turnock, 2011 p. 426). This role, related to disease outbreak, in emergency response and preparedness is risk communication. In situations such as a disease outbreak, public health education is extremely important to communicate to the community
Anthrax is dangerous and deadly poison. It can be found in soil and wild animals. The attack of Anthrax took place on October 2001. Contact with anthrax can cause serious illness in humans and animals. Anthrax is not contagious, even though you get infected with anthrax when spores get into the body. Antibiotics can cure the disease. On October 2001, there was heavy pressure from the President to solve the Anthrax Files. In addition, they had two suspects for the Anthrax crime and FBI’s were sure that the second suspect was guilty.
Anthrax has proved its presence significant in the history of microbiology since biblical times, causing disease worldwide in livestock and humans. Although the natural threat for the average person of contracting anthrax is quite low in the developed world, this disease was thrust into the spotlight in 2001 following a bioterrorism attack in the United States. Letters containing gram amounts of anthrax spores were sent to a magazine in the United States, infecting 11 people with cutaneous anthrax and 11 people with inhalational anthrax, and five people died. Once thought to be a relatively obscure disease, this attack created an international interest in the biology and pathophysiology of anthrax. Bacillus anthracis, the bacteria that causes
These include: injection, cutaneous, ingestion and inhalation (Friebe, van der Goot, F. G., & Bürgi, 2016). Contaminating cattle or food is a possibility for a biological attack but typically the attackers strive for an aerosol weapon due to the lethality of anthrax inhalation. Early diagnosis of inhalation anthrax is difficult because the initial symptoms are similar to the flu and can easily be misdiagnosed. Early detection is critical for treatment but unless the physicians are alert to the possibility of anthrax, it can regrettably, be overlooked. Because of this, inhalation anthrax is can remain undetected until it’s too late (Goel, 2015). Therefore, anthrax is a disease of particular biodefense and public health
Before the 20th century, the use of biological agents took three major forms, Deliberate contamination of food and water with poisonous or contagious material using of microbes, biological toxins, animals, or plants (living or dead) in a weapon system, using of biologically inoculated fabrics and persons. Now a day sophisticated bacteriological and virological techniques allowed the production of significant stockpiles of weaponized bio-agents such as; Anthrax, Brucella, Tularemia, Smallpox, Viral hemorrhagic fevers, Botulinum, Ricin, (Legvold, 2012).The most likely route of dissemination is an aerosolized release of 1-5mm particles. Other methods of dissemination include oral, intentional contamination of food/water supply, percutaneous,
The bacteria I got assigned is Bacillus Anthracis. It’s the bacteria that causes Anthrax. They used Bacillus Anthracis to make the Anthrax Vaccine. There are three different strains of Anthrax they are Cutaneous,Inhalation,and Gastrointestinal. They also used Bacillus Anthracis to prove diseases are caused by bacteria.The spores are found in soil,dead animals,and fences. They can remain dominant for many years. Anthrax is found in farming areas of Central America,South America,and Central Asia. You can get Cutaneous Anthrax by bumping up against something and getting Bacillus Anthracis in a cut. You get Inhalation Anthrax by breathing in Air that has spores of Anthrax in it. You get Gastrointestinal Anthrax by eating raw or undercooked food
Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium. The most common victims of anthrax are warm-blooded animals, but it can also infect humans. Anthrax spores can be produced in a powdery form for biological warfare. When inhaled by humans, these particles cause respiratory failure and death within a week. Because anthrax is considered to be a potential agent for use in biological warfare, the Department of Defense (DOD), in 1998, announced it would begin a systematic vaccination of all U.S. military personnel. (DOD, 1998) Anthrax infection occurs in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation, and gastrointestinal. B. anthracis spores can survive in the soil for many years and handling animal
There are six core functions of epidemiology (Dicker, Coronado, Koo, & Parrish, 2012). The first function is public health surveillance. Public health surveillance can be defined as the method of collecting and analyzing data to better serve the health and well-being of the public efficiently and effectively. For example, if hospitals start seeing more cases of tuberculosis epidemiologists can analyze collected data to find a pattern or commonality among those who were treated. If they find that the majority of patients are from the same geographical location, they may want to concentrate their field investigation efforts in that area. Public health surveillance is important to the study of
Bacillus anthracis is a rod-shaped, nonmotile, aerobic, gram-positive bacterium that can be transmitted from herbivoric animals to humans (Figure 1). Before an animal’s death, its orifices exude blood containing huge quantities of the bacterium. Anthrax forms extremely resilient spores upon exposure to atmospheric conditions. Because of this spore-producing ability, even after the animal host dies the germs can sporulate again, persisting in the soil for up to several decades (1). No cases of human-to-human transmission have been reported for this zoonosis. Historically, human cases have been either industrial, as with woolsorter’s, or agricultural (2).