Home » Health & Wellness  » Common ailments  » Anthrax threat Anthrax, until recently, wasn't widely known about. Now, with the fear of biological warfare looming over us, we need to learn a more about this deadly microbe and its effects.

• Bacillus anthracis is the bacterium that causes anthrax.
• The incubation period is between six and forty five days
• Tests are conducted with nose swabs and blood tests.
• Preventive antibiotics decrease the risk of contracting the disease.
• Anthrax infects warm-blooded animals only. It most commonly occurs in herbivores like cattle, goats, and sheep.
• Humans contract it when they are exposed to dead animals or animal wool or hair.
• It is not contagious from one person to another.
• Eating undercooked meat of diseased animals can also cause man to contract it.
• Symptoms vary. Respiratory exposure could bring about symptoms like the common cold. Skin exposure leads to boil like lesions with a black centre. Lymph glands under the arm may swell.
• Penicillin or tetracycline drugs may be used to treat the disease.
• If infected in the past, a second attack is unlikely.
• Untreated cases may be fatal.