What is anthrax?
Anthrax is a bacterial disease that is originated from the bacteria Bacillus anthracis which is most commonly found in farm animals such as pigs, sheep, cattle, horses and goats. Rarely it is found in humans, humans can get Anthrax from contact with the infected animal. It is very hard to get the disease as you have to either have contact in three very specific ways, you breath in thousands and thousands of its spores, you get in contact with it and it enters a cut or you eat meat that has been infected with the disease.
Where did Anthrax Originate?
Anthrax has quite a long association in human history has the fifth and sixth plagues were anthrax in domesticated animals. Anthrax was associated with the origin of microbiology and immunology being the first disease where a microbial origin was defiantly established.
How does it spread?
Inhalation anthrax: The spores can be held in soil and breathing in these spores will infect you. The spores to don't have any taste or colour so the person will not know when they are breathing in the spores.
Cutaneous anthrax: To get this type of anthrax the spores will have to enter i scrape, cut or wound. You may also get this disease by getting bitten by an infected insect.
Gastrointestinal anthrax: Eating under-cooked mat that has the anthrax bacteria in it, or drinking water that has the spores in it
Cutaneous anthrax: To get this type of anthrax the spores will have to enter i scrape, cut or wound. You may also get this disease by getting bitten by an infected insect.
Gastrointestinal anthrax: Eating under-cooked mat that has the anthrax bacteria in it, or drinking water that has the spores in it