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Bacillus Anthracis: Anthrax
By Hwaa Irfan 30/10/2001
Robert Stevenson, of the American Type Culture Collection - which houses over 55,000 microbes -states, "We've experimented with engineered bacteria for decades." Guidelines for the control of bacteria were lacking, but he continues, "we've had no trouble, partly because of the earlier concerns" (Canby, p. 41,53, 57, 58). They also store Anthrax, a naturally occuring bacteria that seems to have a brain of its own!
In southern India this March, reports surfaced of humans contracting anthrax. Since 1953, 182 cases of human Anthrax have been reported, with the most dramatic rise taking place in 1999. The increase seemed to correspond geographically with outbreaks among farming animals (Brichacek, p.1). This July in Tajikistan, the head of the regional sanitory and epidemiological station, Azizu Sharipov, reported that five people had contracted Anthrax early last year, and an additional 16 contracted the disease this year (Promed, p.1).
The last Anthrax epidemic in the U.S. occurred in 1976. However, it once again has come into the spotlight as people in the U.S. began testing positive for the disease, and dozens more around the country became exposed to the bacteria. Investigations found a link to a strain produced for research in Iowa back in the 1950s and have brought to light an unknown strain held at the national repository in Arizona. (BBC, p.1, 2).
Mainly a disease of domesticated and wild animals, humans can develop the disease by handling products from the infected animals or by inhalation of the spores. The disease is not contagious and the spores need to be dispersed into the air with advanced equipment in order to become dangerous (Todar, p.1).
Tests done by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) ascertained that the two NBC employees earlier this month contracted
cutaneous (skin) Anthrax (ENS, p.1).
In general, about 95% of Anthrax cases are cutaneous. People contract the disease if their skin is broken in some way when it comes into contact with the bacteria. It starts with an itchy bump - much like an insect bite - as spores germinate and vegetative cells multiply.
It then transforms into a painless ulcer, with the center containing a dark, necrotic area. Local lymphatic glands then become tender and swollen.
Approximately, 20% of people who do not get treatment for Anthrax will die - but generally, death is rare (CDC, p.1 & Todar, p.3).
Inhalation Anthrax, commonly known as wool sorters' disease, is usually contracted from dust, animal hair or hide (Todar, p.3). Early symptoms appear to be similar to those of a common cold. Within a few days, severe breathing difficulties develop and possible shock may occur.
Finally, systemic hemorrhaging develops and is usually fatal if treatment fails (CDC, p.1 & Todar, p.3).
Intestinal Anthrax, is typified by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract, nausea, a loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. Death occurs in 25% - 60% of cases (CDC, p.1, 2).
The natural history of bacillus anthracis remains obscure, unlike its close cousin
bacillus cereus - which develops from the soil (Todar, p.2), and its spores cannot be easily destroyed. The U.S. Navy Manual on Operation Medicine and Fleet Support, "Biological Warfare Defense Information Sheet," recommend 0.05% hypochlorate solution (1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water) and steam sterilization to disinfect contaminated articles.
However, some researchers state that the spores can only be destroyed by steam sterilization or burning but not by disinfectants (Todar, p.7, 8). The Federal Department of Health and Human Services recently recommended the antibiotics
ciproflaxacin, tetracyclines and penicillins as effective treatments for Anthrax (ENS, p.2).
However, Dr. T.K. Dutta, professor of the Jawahharial Nehru Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, found that penicillin loses its effectiveness as the
bacillus anthracis becomes more resistant (Brichcek, p.1).
Various other vaccines have been produced, but vaccines from dead bacteria and antigens have proven unsuccessful (Todar, p.6). But one vaccine, which contains no dead or live bacteria and contains
aluminium hydroxide to help increase the effectiveness, has also been developed.
The sole manufacturer and distributor of the above vaccine is the Biopart Corporation in Michigan, U.S and was developed for use during the Persian Gulf War.
A compulsory vaccination program has been in place since 1997 for all active and reserve U.S. troops, but lack of faith in the vaccine resulted in pilots, aircrew and national guards seeking reassignment (Charatan, p.1& Elvin, p.1). Biopart reported that the manuals containing the "recipe" for the vaccine were missing last year, delaying the planned vaccination of 2.4 million troops (Elvin, p.1).
The CDC states that the Biopart human Anthrax vaccine is 93% effective (CDC, p.2, 3). However, a congressional hearing last November received several complaints regarding its effectiveness, one of which was from Richard Dunn - who was employed at the Biopart plant and later died after receiving a series of shots of the vaccine. The medical reports state that his death had no connection to the vaccine (Mercola, p.1).
In May 2001, scientists at the Harvard Medical School in Boston came up with an answer by neutralizing the potentially lethal Anthrax toxin and developing a mutant form of its protective antigen. In their experiment, the treated rats survived but the exposed rats died within hours. Human trials are still required, but hopes remain that the new vaccine can also be used as a preventive measure (Science Service, p.1).
Sources:
BBC. "Third Florida Anthrax
Case." BBC News. 10/11/01.
Blum, William. "Anthrax for Export: US Companies Sold Iraq the Ingredients for a Witch's Brew." Progressive. April 1998.
Brichacek, Andra. "Anthrax Alarm." Pharmaceutical Technology. Advanstar Communications Inc. March 2001.
Canby, Thomas. Y. "Teaching Old Bugs New Tricks." National Geographic. 184:2(1993) 36-60
CDC. "How Is Anthrax
Transmitted?" Center for Control of Diseases and Prevention.
Charatan, Fred. "Fears Over Anthrax Driving Away US
Reservists." British Medical Journal. 10/11/01.
Elvin, John. "Case of the Missing Formula [special Anthrax formula missing]." Insight on the
News. 09/25/00.
Environmental News Service. "Anthrax Scare." 10/12/01. 1-3. Environment. The Lycos. Network. 110/14/01.
Mercola, Joseph. "US Congress Told Anthrax Vaccine is Not Safe." 11/12/00. 1-4. Mercola.com. 10/14/01.
Promed. "Anthrax & Brucellosis - Tajikstan
(Khatlon)." Asia Plus News Agency. 07/05/01. 1-2. Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases. 10/14/01.
Science Service Inc. "New Anthrax Treatment Works in Rats." Science News Online. 05/12/01. 1-2. Anthrax Care and Treatment. Bacterial Infections Care and Treatment. Findarticles.com. 10/14/01.
Todar, Kenneth. "Anthrax [Bacillus anthracis]." 10/13/01. 1-8. Disease. Bacteria Wise Education. 10/14/01.
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