Browsing: Anthrax

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. This bacterium forms spores that can survive in the environment for many years, and can infect both wild and domestic animals, particularly herbivorous mammals. Humans can contract anthrax through direct or indirect contact with infected animals, by inhaling spores, consuming contaminated meat, or through cuts on the skin. Anthrax is most notorious for its potential as a biological weapon, with the spores capable of being dispersed through the air over large areas. The disease manifests in different forms depending on the route of infection: cutaneous (skin), inhalational (lungs), gastrointestinal (digestive system), and injectional, each varying in severity, with inhalational anthrax being the most deadly. Treatment typically involves antibiotics, and vaccines are available for high-risk groups.