Anthrax
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium
Bacillus anthracis. Naturally occurring anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic lower vertebrates (cattle, sheep, goats, camels, antelopes, and other herbivores) when they ingest spores from soil, and it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or contaminated animal products (e.g., meat or hides) or if anthrax spores are used as a bioterrorist weapon.
Although human anthrax is infrequent and sporadic in the United States, human cases (primarily cutaneous) continue to be reported from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. While anthrax contaminated soil exists in many foci throughout the United States, the number of cases reported annually, prior to the 2001 bioterrorism-related outbreak, had declined over the last five decades. During the
2001 bioterrorism-related anthrax outbreak, 11 inhalational anthrax and 11 cutaneous anthrax cases occurred. In the United States from 2006-2023, nine human cases (two inhalation, one ingestion, four cutaneous, and two with no documented route of infection) were reported. In 2006, a case of
inhalational anthrax acquired from animal drum hides from Africa
occurred in a resident of New York City and in 2008 a
New Hampshire resident was confirmed to have
gastrointestinal anthrax which occurred after a drumming event using animal hide drums.
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NOTE TO ALL HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS: |
If you suspect that a patient is infected with Anthrax, immediately call Acute Communicable Disease Control to assist with diagnosis and implementation of infection control.
(213) 240-7941 (7:30AM-5:00PM, Mon-Fri)
(213) 974-1234 (After Hours, Emergency Operator, ask for on-call physician)
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