Anthrax – Russia
- August 7, 2021
- < 1 min read
Dagestan, Russia sees it second case of anthrax in the last ten months.
The patient is a 52-year-old resident of the village Kakashura and was hospitalized in an infectious disease hospital. According to doctors, he has a skin form of the disease which is easier to tolerate than the pulmonary and gastrointestinal forms. His condition is labeled as moderate. The patient was noted to have butchered cattle after their slaughter.
Doctors are monitoring those who have been in contact with the patient, and they are investigating the source and cause of infection.
Photo: Bacillus anthracis from an agar culture with spores (blue).
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Anthrax is spread by contact with the bacterium’s spores, which often appear in infectious animal products.
The skin form presents with a small blister with surrounding swelling that often turns into a painless ulcer with a black center.
The inhalation form presents with fever, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
The intestinal form presents with diarrhea which may contain blood, abdominal pains, nausea, and vomiting.
The injection form presents with fever and an abscess at the site of drug injection.
Human anthrax is most common in Africa and central and southern Asia, though it can occur anywhere. Skin infections represent more than 95% of cases.
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