How to treat anthrax when cutaneous anthrax infection occurs in Liaoning

　　1. What is anthrax?

　　Anthrax is a rare bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis disease , usually occurs in animals, but can also infect humans. It comes in three categories: inhalational, enteral and skin sex. Inhalation anthrax is very rare, and the initial symptoms are common cold Similarly, breathing difficulties may occur two to six days after onset, followed by shock and death. Symptoms of intestinal anthrax include severe food poisoning. Cutaneous anthrax usually presents as a painless ulcer with a black central part and swollen nearby lymph glands, and is the most common category.

　　Since Bacillus anthracis lives in the countryside and among animals, those infected are limited to veterinarians, animal husbandry and field workers, and general travelers do not need to worry. In addition, anthrax may be used in biological warfare, but the process of making it into extremely fine atomized particles is very difficult and requires highly specialized technology and special equipment.

　　Bacillus anthracis virus is commonly found in soil and in sheep, cattle, and horses. Humans can become infected through contact with infected animals and their products, or by inhaling anthrax spores. Anthrax cannot be spread from one person to another.

　　2. What are the sources of infection of anthrax?

　　The source of infection of anthrax is anthrax-infected herbivores, including domestic and wild animals. The most susceptible small livestock are sheep and goats, as well as cattle, deer and horses. The infection process of anthrax in this kind of animals is very fast. Once the sheep are infected, they often die suddenly in a lightning-like manner, mostly from septicemia. The blood and carcasses of dead animals contain large amounts of Bacillus anthracis, so carcasses without any disinfection are very dangerous sources of infection. The carcasses of animals that died due to anthrax and the secretions and excretions of dying animals will pollute the soil and aquatic plants. The long-term survival of B. anthracis can cause persistent foci and cause long-term harm to humans and livestock.

　　Soil and aquatic plants contaminated by Bacillus anthracis are also direct sources of infection in domestic and wild animals. At the same time, in severely polluted areas, Bacillus anthracis can spread with dust and water flow, causing scattered cases in animals and humans.

　　3. What are the sources and infection routes of human anthrax?

　　The main sources of human anthrax are: direct contact such as dissection, eating of animals that died of anthrax or sick animals.； Accidentally eating anthrax and dead animal meat ； Infection caused by inhalation of aerosols of anthrax spores and the use of bacterial warfare agents such as Bacillus anthracis.

　　Specifically, there are three main ways of infection with anthrax. The first is transcutaneous infection, that is, Bacillus anthracis enters the body through cut or damaged skin and causes infection. This form of transmission accounts for about 95% of the total number of anthrax cases. The second is infection through the digestive tract, that is, infection caused by eating anthrax-infected animals or undercooked meat contaminated by Bacillus anthracis or other food or water containing Bacillus anthracis. The third is respiratory infection, that is, infection caused by inhaling air containing anthrax spores or dust particles containing spores. This route is also the most dangerous route of infection and transmission. For example, in 1979, a military department in the former Soviet Union accidentally spread anthrax spores into the air, resulting in 68 deaths.

　　Are there differences in anthrax infection among people of different races and regions?

　　People's susceptibility to anthrax has no differences in race, age or gender. Both men, women and children can be infected with the disease. Patients can be as young as 2 months old and as old as 80 years old, which mainly depends on the number of exposure opportunities. Generally speaking, adult men are the main labor force in agriculture and animal husbandry, so the disease is generally more common among young adults, with a male-to-female ratio of 7:1. However, under special circumstances, the elderly and children are also the main targets of infection.