First case of anthrax reported in New Hampshire.
In a press release issued Saturday, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has confirmed a case of gastrointestinal anthrax in an adult female from Strafford County.
The woman is currently in critical condition. Health officials are investigating the source of the anthrax and believe it is naturally occurring from the environment.
Foster’s Daily Democrat reports that the woman owns an African drum and reportedly participated in a community drum circle at Waysmeet Center in Durham, the ecumenical United Campus Ministry for the University of New Hampshire community, between October and early December 2009.
Citizens however should not be concerned because there are no reports of person to person transmission of anthrax.
People get anthrax by handling contaminated animal or animal products, consuming undercooked meat of infected animals and more recently, intentional release of spores.
There are 3 types of anthrax with differing degrees of seriousness:
• Cutaneous anthrax
This occurs when the spore (or possibly the bacterium) enters a cut or abrasion on the skin. It starts out as a raised bump that looks like an insect bite. It then develops into a blackened lesion called an eschar (see below) that may form a scab. Lymph glands in the area may swell plus edema may be present. This form of anthrax responds well to antibiotics. If untreated, deaths can occur if the infection goes systemic. 95% of cases of anthrax are cutaneous. The CDC states there are 1-2 cases annually in the US.
• Gastrointestinal anthrax
This typically follows the ingestion of contaminated meats. It is characterized by stomach pain, severe bloody diarrhea, bloody vomit and an inflammation of the intestinal tract. Up to half of those infected will perish from this form of disease. This is a very rare type of anthrax.
• Inhalation anthrax
Also known as “woolsorter’s disease”, happens due to inhaling the spores. After incubating for less than a week; fever, aches, vomiting are early symptoms. After the initial symptoms, a short period of improvement (less than a day) may occur. It then progresses to severe respiratory distress. Shock and death soon follow. Later stages of this infection have nearly a 100% chance of death even with antibiotics. In the US this form is also very rare.
Anthrax can be treated with antibiotics with varying rates of success based on how quickly treatment starts and the type of anthrax. Ciprofloxacin, doxycycline and penicillin are FDA-approved for the treatment of anthrax in adults and children.
For more on the author Click below: