Anthrax: Agent of terror

10/12/01

Bacillus anthracis, the organism that causes the deadly anthrax disease, gets its name from the Greek word for coal, anthracis, because of its ability to cause black, coal-like cutaneous eschars, or scabs.

Human infection can follow contact with infected animals or animal products or from the release of anthrax spores. Anthrax was developed as part of a larger biological weapons program by several countries, including the Soviet Union and the United States, during the latter part of the 20th century.

One outcome has been the mandatory vaccination against anthrax of U.S. active duty and reserve military personnel. Perhaps even more threatening to the general public is the thought of anthrax being used in individual acts of terrorism.

The specter of anthrax has grown in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, with cases reported in Florida. To deal with the threat, federal and state governments and other agencies have developed response plans and posted information about the disease on the Web.

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/
Emergency response plans to biological threats of several kinds, including anthrax, from the federal Centers for Disease Control. Includes news updates about the anthrax cases in Florida.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax_g.htm
General information about anthrax from the CDC in the form of frequently asked questions.

http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v281n18/fig_tab/jst80027_ft.html
What does anthrax look like? View images posted as part of this Journal of the American Medical Association article.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no4/inglesby.htm
Read this possible scenario of an anthrax attack on the northeast United States, written by Thomas V. Inglesby, of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

http://www.hopkins-biodefense.org/
This comprehensive online resource by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies provides information on several disease agents, bioterrorism threats and a look at a military exercise called "Dark Winter" conducted last June at Andrews Air Force Base.

Anthrax information is featured at this link: http://www.hopkins-biodefense.org/pages/agents/agentanthrax.html

http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/
The Department of Defense site on anthrax, which details the threat, the disease, the vaccine and its safety and effectiveness. It includes U.S. military policy requiring anthrax vaccination for all active duty and reserve personnel.

http://www.defenselink.mil/other_info/qanda.html
Questions and answers from the U.S. Department of Defense about its anthrax vaccination program.

http://www.state.ri.us/riema/sheltering.htm
Practical advice on how to protect yourself -- in your home, vehicle or workplace -- from contaminated air.

http://www.bioport.com/
The Web site of BioPort, the only manufacturer of anthrax vaccine.

http://infections.bayer.com/treatment/ciprofloxacin_ciprobay_en.html
Information about Cipro, an antibiotic prescribed as a treatment for anthrax.

Sites compiled by projo.com, the Web site of The Providence Journal.