Anthrax FACTS!!!

[EXCESS]

HOW DO PEOPLE GET ANTHRAX?
About 95 percent of all cases worldwide result from skin contact - bacterial spores that land on a scratch or other broken skin. It can also cause infection if breathed into the lungs or eaten, but these are much less common.

DOES THE SAME GERM CAUSE ALL FORMS OF ANTHRAX?
Yes

IS IT CONTAGIOUS?
No. Infected people do not spread the bacteria to others.

HOW IS IT TREATED?
A variety of antibiotics are extremely effective for skin anthrax. Among them are doxycycline, penicillin and Cipro.

SHOULD I TAKE ANTIBIOTICS NOW, JUST IN CASE I MIGHT ENCOUNTER THE GERM?
No, people should not take antibiotics unless they have reason to think they were exposed to the bacteria. The treatments can cause side effects and should not be used inappropriately.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SKIN ANTHRAX?
It starts with a painless blister that is red around the edges. A day or two later this becomes a black open sore, which dries up to leave a black scab, which falls off after a week or two.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF INHALED ANTHRAX?
Fever, coughing, weakness, and chest pains.

WHY IS INHALED ANTHRAX WORSE THAN SKIN ANTHRAX?
Inhaled Anthrax produces an abundance of toxins in the blood which antibiotics cannot defend against.

HOW BIG ARE ANTHRAX SPORES?
Between 1 and 5 microns (one micron is 1000 times smaller than 1 millimeter).

[ptbyjason]

good info, thanks for that

[Ms Figure]

Excess really good info thank you we are not that clued up in the UK what its all about we have a lot of scares over here but no known cases as yet!

[Billy Boy]

Ms_F I think there has been two reported cases and in most Sunday papers there was like a survival sheet thing on what to do.

Who was training instead of relaxing with the Sunday papers.....naughty girl!!! LOL

[Ms Figure]

Billy you mean we have Sunday papers, LOL

Oh right i was watching the morning programme on Monday which had half hour dedicated to it and they said they were just scares but ill go with you!

[Billy Boy]

Well I must confess I was reading News of the World

[Mike]

Thanks bud - good post

Oh yeah...I LOVE the way you brits spell PROGRAM LOL

[CrazyRussian]

booya!! i dont have it!!

[EXCESS]

CrazyRussian,
Thats not the kind of attitude the world needs right now. Maybe a little moral support or a donation (click my link ) would be worth celebrating.

[CrazyRussian]

i donated half of my LAST paycheck to the american red cross (300 dollars) not much but ill get my money back in some other way, possibly by satisfaction of doing the right thing. peezda!

[EXCESS]

Good job bud!