Drugs Better Than Vaccine for Anthrax
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=41062
Anthrax differs from most bacteria in that they exist in an inactive (dormant) state called spores. The spores are found in soil, animal carcasses and feces (including sheep, goats, cattle, bison, horses, and deer), and animal products (e.g., hides and wool). Some animals (cats, dogs, rats, and swine) are very resistant to anthrax. Remarkably, anthrax spores can remain dormant in soil for many years, perhaps decades. Likened somewhat to eggs that have the ability to hatch, spores can transform (germinate) into active bacteria under appropriate conditions. The spores themselves do not cause any significant damage to tissue. However, they can lead to disease by 1) entering broken skin, cutaneous anthrax; 2) being inhaled, inhalation anthrax; or 3) being eaten, gastrointestinal anthrax. Once in the body, the spores germinate to form the virulent (disease-causing) bacteria.
How easy is it to get an anthrax infection?
Not very easy! Since only the spores can spread (transmit) the disease, and anthrax does not form spores in living tissues, the disease is not transmitted from person to person. That is to say, anthrax is not contagious. The most common way people get infected with anthrax is by working with animal carcasses or hides that contain spores. These people usually contract cutaneous anthrax.
Inhalation anthrax is exceedingly rare. This is because, as previously mentioned, the spores have to travel all the way to the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. Thus, the spores must be small (less than 5 microns) and able to get past many protective barriers (such as mucus, body chemicals, and microscopic hairs) in the mouth, nose, throat, and air passages. What's more, the spores must overcome obstacles presented by the body's immune (defense) system. So, it is estimated that many thousands of spores (perhaps 10-20,000) are needed to establish an infection in humans.
All things considered, most forms of anthrax bacteria are probably not that dangerous. Sadly, however, some governments are spending millions of dollars to try to develop more deadly anthrax bacteria for use as biologic weapons. Hopefully, these sinister efforts will be overshadowed by more rapid progress in the development of better vaccines and antitoxins.
Note: the Anthrax Vaccine that the DOD is using on todays Military Members (and Stockpiling for Civilian Population)has "NOT" been proven effective on Inhilation Anthrax, Yet they are still using it as a remody to the solution and at the same time Maiming our Troops i the process....
Hog
