What Is Anthrax?
Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It can occur in humans when they have been exposed to contaminated animals or tissue from these animals.
Different types of anthrax infections can occur. These include:
- Skin infection causing:
- Skin ulcers
- জ্বর
- ক্লান্তি
- Gastrointestinal infection causing:
- জ্বর
- বমি বমি ভাব
- বমি
- গলা ব্যথা
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- ফুলে যাওয়া লিম্ফ গ্রন্থি
- Inhaled infection. This is the most serious form and can cause:
- গলা ব্যথা
- জ্বর
- পেশী aches
- শ্বাসকষ্ট
- শক
- Brain inflammation
Anthrax is treated with antibiotics. All forms of anthrax can be fatal, especially if not treated.
What Is the Anthrax Vaccine?
The anthrax vaccine protects against anthrax. It does not contain cells that cause anthrax.
কাদের টিকা দেওয়া উচিত এবং কখন?
The following people (aged 18 to 65 years) should get vaccinated. Those who:
- Are lab workers who may come into contact with B. anthracis
- Certain people who handle animals and animal products
- Certain people in the military who run the risk of exposure to anthrax as a biological warfare weapon
These people should get 5 doses of the vaccine in the muscle. The first dose should be given when there is risk of exposure. The other 4 doses should be given at 4 weeks and 6, 12, and 18 months after the first dose.
What Are the Risks Associated With the Anthrax Vaccine?
- Common, mild side effects include a reaction at the injection site – Soreness, redness, itching, a lump, or a bruise
- মাথাব্যথা
- ক্লান্তি
- Rare, but serious risks include a serious allergic reaction—This condition is usually associated with anaphylaxis, which is an extreme allergic response.
- Other serious adverse events may also occur.
কে টিকা দেওয়া উচিত নয়?
Those who should not get vaccinated include:
- Anyone who has had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of anthrax vaccine or any vaccine component
- People with Guillain Barré syndrome
- Those who are very sick
What Other Ways Can Anthrax Be Prevented Besides Vaccination?
- Take precautions when dealing with animals or animal products that could possibly be contaminated with B. anthracis.
- Begin a course of antibiotic treatment if you have been exposed to anthrax.
একটি প্রাদুর্ভাবের ঘটনা কি ঘটবে?
It is not believed that anthrax can be spread from person to person. If an outbreak occurred and a large number of people were exposed to the bacteria, the US would give antibiotics and vaccines to everyone who was exposed.