ANTHRAX CASSIDI, CARLEY, AND DOUGLAS

WHAT IS ANTHRAX…? Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. Infection in humans most often involves the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, or the lungs

DETECTION.. Scientists detect anthrax by taking continuous air samples and using heat to cause the spores to release a chemical called dipicolinic acid, which is unique to bacteria spores. Scientists are now detecting anthrax by lasers.

CURE.. Cutaneous (bacterial, usually enters through a cut) Anthrax is typically cured with antibiotics. There is a 99% cure rate. Inhalation of Anthrax cure rate is only around 25% because some early symptoms of inhaling Anthrax are sometimes confused with other illnesses, such as the flu.

LASTING EFFECTS.. Significant health problems Psychological distress Trouble adjusting to life for at least a year

HISTORY.. In the 1900s, an outbreak of inhalation of Anthrax occurred in the United States. This was the largest outbreak of inhaling Anthrax in history. Anthrax was the infection involved in many different medical breakthroughs in history, such as Louis Pastures veterinary anthrax vaccine.

ANTHRAX CONTAMINATED HEROIN In Leicestershire, UK a 29 year old male was found dead due to a heroin overdose. The heroine he had bought had been contaminated with Anthrax. There have been 13 deaths in Scotland due to over doses of heroin, and 47 other confirmed cases of overdoses of heroin, and 1 in Germany. All of the batches of heroin were contaminated with Anthrax.

There are 300,000 heroin users in the UK and 2% die every year from over doses. They are now taking into consideration that someone may be trying to introduce heroin and wish to kill its addicts, which would make all these deaths unsolved murders instead of simply just an overdose. Now it must be taken into consideration that every batch of heroin in the UK might be contaminated with heroin.

Due to the recent deaths, the Health Protection Agency in Leicestershire County and Rutland are urging all heroin users to quit and seek treatment immediately.