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| Anthrax Rules |
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Foogle Business © Copyright 2006 " LEARN MORE, BE MORE " |
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Last-Modified: 05/01/06 11:34 |
Information - Learn More, Be More
Written in 2001
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A national guardsman stands watch over San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge following possible terrorist threats. (AP Photo) 2001 |
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Information - Learn More, Be More
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ALL YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ANTHRAX
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Anthrax A contagious disease of many animals, including farm livestock, that can be transmitted to man. Caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, it is usually caught by eating contaminated food. The symptoms often appear suddenly, with a rise in temperature, staggering, difficulty in breathing, convulsions, and death. In horses and pigs a more gradual form may occur, with progressive swelling of the throat and neck resulting in breathing difficulties and choking. In many countries the authorities must be notified of any outbreaks. Treatment is with antibiotics and prevention is by vaccination of herds. Man may develop localized swellings after handling infected carcasses or pneumonia from inhaling the bacterial spores wool sorters disease |
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Generally it is accepted that in the main, Cattle get Anthrax, but any mammal is susceptible. |
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Anthrax Spores. Spores can be 3 microns in diameter; a human hair is 25 microns. Spores are so small that they can escape from sealed envelopes through very small gaps and cross-contaminate other 'innocent' mail. Micron The former name for the SI unit now called the micro-meter, i.e. 10 to the negative power of 6 of a meter. |
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Anthrax under a microscope
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The most common form of the disease in humans is cutaneous anthrax, which is usually acquired via injured skin or mucous membranes. A quite minor scratch or abrasion, usually on an exposed area of the face or neck or arms, is invaded by spores from the soil or a contaminated animal or carcass. The spores germinate, vegetative cells multiply, and a characteristic lesion develops at the site. In severe cases, where the blood stream is eventually invaded, the disease may be fatal. The blood stream will carry the disease everywhere around the body, and the body's defenses, plus even any other defense mechanism such as anti-biotics, will not be able to cope with the huge invasion that this would present. |
Information - Learn More, Be More
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Cutaneous Anthrax, is the disease that develops at the skin level. Handling, in the main, large numbers of the spores with skin that is generally damaged, and the damage need only be slight, AND / OR continued handling with skin that seems impervious, can result in an infection. It is best OBVIOUSLY not to handle anthrax spores at all, however, if you feel that it may be inevitable, through some accident, surgical rubber gloves would be necessary to protect you. Under the present circumstances do NOT open or handle an envelope that looks at all suspicious. Be alert at all times. Do NOT open suspicious packages / letters. WASH HANDS and/or SHOWER, AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. USE a STRONG ANTI-BACTERIAL HAND WASH. Have at hand always, a very large zip-lock plastic envelope to seal any suspect package in. Call 911, or 999 if in UK or 123 if in Europe. Consider for several moments who might have sent you such a letter and whether you need to call the authorities. Remember the EMS are presently snowed under with all the calls that they are getting on this subject. Please note that persons receiving infected envelopes at present, are usually government or media bodies. |
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Another form of the disease, inhalation anthrax, wool-sorters' disease; the most dangerous, results most commonly from inhalation of a spore-containing dust. The spores recognize an environment for a change in the life-cycle and the anthrax cells multiple exponentially. The disease begins abruptly with high fever and chest pain. It progresses rapidly to a systemic hemorrhagic pathology and is often fatal if treatment cannot stop the invasive aspect of the infection. |
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Intestinal Anthrax, the causes above are obvious and because the invading cells grow so quickly and is able to spread the best defence, as in ALL variants, is avoidance. In civilized countries meat is generally of such high standards that any human contamination of anything is highly unlikely. But we must consider sabotage and therefore meat must be cooked for unreasonably longer, at a much higher temperature than before. Consider going vegetarian or using processed food. |
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Meningitis due to B. anthracis is a very rare complication that may result from a primary infection elsewhere. The infectious dose of anthrax organisms is highly variable from animal species to species, and it varies widely dependent on the route of inoculation. The symptoms and clinical manifestations of the disease can be found at: www.gsbs.utmb.edu/microbook/ch015.htm The bacteria are able to invade their animal hosts because they are resistant to the hosts' phagocytic defenses.
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Phagocyte n. leucocyte capable of engulfing and absorbing foreign matter. [Greek phag- eat, kutos cell]. This is what the white-cells do, they engulf and kill all foreign bodies in the blood stream. |
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During and after invasion, the bacteria produce a toxin which has a lethal mode of activity. Death from anthrax in humans or animals frequently occurs suddenly and unexpectedly. The level of the lethal toxin in the circulation increases rapidly quite late in the disease, and it closely parallels the concentration of organisms in the blood. Treatment Antibiotics should be given to unvaccinated individuals exposed to inhalation anthrax. Penicillin, tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones (Cipro) are effective if administered before the onset of lymphatic spread or septicemia, estimated to be about 24 hours. Antibiotic treatment is also known to lessen the severity of disease in individuals who acquire anthrax through the skin. Inhalation anthrax was formerly thought to be nearly 100% fatal despite antibiotic treatment, particularly if treatment is started after symptoms appear. A recent Army study resulted in successful treatment of monkeys with antibiotic therapy after being exposed to anthrax spores. The antibiotic therapy was begun one day after exposure.
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Please Note. In 2001 - It had been reported that many people are buying up stocks of CIPRO that are available from their local Drug Store. Many are traveling down to Mexico where it is about 30-50% of the USA price. DO NOT TAKE ANY ANTIBIOTICS UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN PRESCRIBED THEM BY A DOCTOR. This is especially important for drugs such as Cipro. If you have no infection it is of no use taking an antibiotic and may even lessen the effect should you need to take the drug at a later date, when you do actually have an infection. Use of such drugs should be avoided unless totally necessary; take only as prescribed by your doctor. HOWEVER, When prescribed ANY course of antibiotics ALWAYS finish the WHOLE course of treatment. Even if you feel better always continue to take the full course. |
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Immunization |
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Prior to 9-11, the anthrax vaccine is produced under contract to the Department of Defense, and only small quantities are made available as needed to civilians who are exposed to anthrax hazards in their work environment, such as veterinarians, lab workers and others. An attempt to immunize 2.5 million members of the military ended three years ago, but that policy is being reevaluated. If the manufacturer receives approval from the FDA, vaccine production will resume. At present great quantities of suitable vaccine is being produced all around the World. Germany is to sell to the USa 300 million anti-biotic tablets at 95 cents each. Johnson & Johnson is to give to the USA Government 100 million doses of its best anti-biotic. Pfizer, had hundreds of millions of doses of VIBRAMYCIN, now in production. ALSO, the US has acquire 250 million doses of Small-Pox vaccine. The anthrax vaccine is a preparation of the protective antigen (a fraction of the toxin) recovered from the culture filtrate of an avirulent, non-encapsulated strain of Bacillus Anthracis. Anthrax immunization consists of three subcutaneous injections given two weeks apart followed by three additional subcutaneous injections given at 6, 12, and 18 months. Annual booster injections of the vaccine are required to maintain a protective level of immunity.
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Anthrax and Biological Warfare
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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)? Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus is a bacterial infection resistant to antibiotic methicillin. Staphylococcus aureus, sometimes referred to simply as "staf" or "staph A" is a common bacterium found on the skin of healthy people. If staph gets into the body it can cause a minor infection such as boils or pimples or serious infections such as pneumonia or blood infections. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus produces symptoms no different from any other type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The skin will appear red and inflamed around wound sites. Symptoms in serious cases may include fever, lethargy, and headache. MRSA can cause urinary tract infections, pneumonia, toxic shock syndrome, and even death.
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Bacteria - Microscopic single-celled organisms found wherever life is possible. Generally 0.0001–0.005 mm long, they may be spherical (coccus), rodlike (bacillus), or spiral-shaped (spirillum) and often occur in chains or clusters of cells. True bacteria have a rigid cell wall, which may be surrounded by a slimy capsule, and they often have long whip-like flagella for locomotion and short hair-like pili used in a form of sexual reproduction. A few bacteria can use simple chemical substances, including carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, to manufacture their own nutrients, but most require a source of carbon derived from living organisms (i.e. organic carbon) plus other nutrients for growth. Some bacteria can reproduce every 15 minutes, leading to rapid population growth. The most important role of bacteria is in decomposing dead plant and animal tissues and releasing their constituents to the soil (see carbon cycle). Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil or sea convert atmospheric nitrogen gas to nitrites and nitrates, which can then be used by plants (see nitrogen cycle). Cheese making and fermentation reactions depend on bacteria. Bacteria also play an important part in animal digestion, especially in ruminants. However, certain (pathogenic) species may cause disease while others, such as Salmonella, can cause food poisoning. |
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