KARACHI, Oct 31: Need for better public understanding of Bacillus Anthracis, commonly known as anthrax, is found to be all the more pertinent in Pakistan as the fear of biological warfare grips the world.
Senior microbiologist at Dow Medical College, Dr Shaheen Shoaib, at the very outset, clarified that the disease is not contagious and can be eradicated through easily-available antibiotics such as Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Gentamycin and Chloramphenicol.
To a query, she said that the relatively new drug, Ciprofloxacin, belonging to the Quinoline group, has emerged as the leading medicine against anthrax. However, its use in children is questionable because of side-effects.
It may also be mentioned that share values of the concerned company marketing Ciprofloxacin have superseded expectations in the present business scenario.
The microbiologist said that human beings can acquire this infection in a number of ways, including through consumption of meat of an infected animal, handling the skin, wool or hides of such animals and inhalation of spores.
Animal products such as bristles used in shaving brushes or leather jackets can also be a source of infection, said the senior microbiologist, adding in the same breath that at least 150 to 700 spores are needed to induce a significant infection, as only one cell or spore cannot produce enough toxic effects that can cause infection.
Anthrax, she stressed, is originally a disease of animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. Its spores are found in the meat, skin, wool and hair of the infected animal. The spores can survive in the soil for as long as 20 years.
According to her, consumption of contaminated meat causes gastrointestinal anthrax, while handling of skin, wool or hides of affected animals causes cutaneous anthrax in which the spores enter the skin through hand abrasions, cuts or scars.
With reference to manifestation of the infection among human beings, she said cutaneous anthrax appears as a dark ulcerating lesion on the affected part of the skin. If it enters through inhalation, early symptoms resemble those of the common flu.
Later haemorrhage, sepsis and meningitis may occur which is usually fatal, she said, adding that while the disease is treatable if diagnosed at an early stage, yet even in the later stages gamma globulins prepared from a vaccinated person can be life-saving.
Vaccines are also available which were developed in UK and USA in 1960, but their use is limited to persons at high risk and the efficacy of various vaccines also differ due to great variation.
“Persons handling animal skin or wool usually acquire the infection by inhaling the spores which may be present in the skin or wool. Therefore, the wool sorter’s disease has been a common name for this infection,” Dr Shaheen Shoaib reminded.
She also reminded that spores do not remain in the air for long periods and have a tendency to settle down quite rapidly. If these spores reach food or water sources, they can cause contamination.
In the given situation, she said that proper sensitization is all the more necessary, enabling both government and the public to promote procedure and policies to effectively combat any untoward situation.
Dr Shaheen said that anthrax was first used in biological warfare in 1941, when British authorities tested an anthrax bomb produced by them at Guinard Island.—APP
