⚠️ BE AWARE OF ANTHRAX: A ZOONOTIC DISEASE TRANSMISSIBLE FROM ANIMALS TO HUMANS
What is anthrax?
Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis.
🦠 It is a rod-shaped bacterium that can form spores.
🌍 Spores can survive in soil for long periods and are found worldwide.
🐮 Commonly affects mammals such as cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep, horses, and some wild animals.
😷 How do humans become infected?
People can contract anthrax through:
👐 Contact with infected animals or carcasses
🔪 Handling contaminated animal products
🌬️ Inhaling airborne spores
🍖 Eating undercooked or unsafe meat
Examples of risk exposure:
⚰️ Burying infected carcasses
🥩 Consuming contaminated meat
🚨 Symptoms of anthrax
1. Cutaneous anthrax 👋
Red bumps resembling insect bites 🐜 that turn into ulcers with black centers ⚫
May include fever, swelling, redness, and discomfort 🤒
2. Inhalation anthrax 🌬️
Starts with mild symptoms like cough and low-grade fever 🤧
Can progress rapidly: coughing up blood, difficulty breathing, chest pain, headache 🩸😮💨
⚠️ Can be fatal if not treated promptly
3. Gastrointestinal anthrax 🍽️
Nausea, vomiting 🤢 abdominal pain, diarrhea (sometimes bloody) 💩
Fever and sore throat 😫
🛡️ How to prevent anthrax
🚫 Avoid direct contact with livestock (cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep)
🧼 Wash hands and shower after animal handling
🥩 Consume only properly cooked and certified meat
📞 Report unusual livestock deaths to veterinary authorities
🏥 Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear
