Anthrax is an infectious disease caused zoonosis by Bacillus anthracis. Mammals, especially herbivores, and several species of birds are the main species affected by this disease. Animals such as cows, buffalo, goats, sheep and pigs are often infected. There are several other names for anthrax, such as malignant edema, malignant pustules, woolsorter’s disease, and lymph inflammation. Anthrax can be transmitted from animals to humans through contact with lesions, using contaminated animal products, and inhaling B. anthracis spores. In the world, anthrax incidents often only impact small geographic areas. Alkaline areas, calcareous soil, warm climates, and occasional flooding are the areas where outbreaks occur most frequently. In cases of severe infection, the effects of anthrax can cause the animal to die within 48-72 hours.
Although anthrax has been documented in the United States, Australia, Sweden, Italy, and several other European countries, Asia and Africa are thought to be the most affected. Human anthrax deaths have also been reported in a number of Indonesian Provinces, particularly in endemic regions. The high fatality rate associated with anthrax in humans is usually caused by undetected and inadequate treatment. Anthrax is an enzootic illness that involves re-emerging or repeated disease. The disease can manifest in peracute, acute, subacute, and chronic forms in animals. In cases of severe infection, animals may die within 48–72 h, and blood may fail to clot and seep from the nose, mouth, and anus.
Anthrax Case
In the first half of the 20th century, the World Health Organization reported 20,000–100,000 cases of anthrax in humans and livestock annually worldwide. In the second half of the 20th century, the anthrax incidence subsequently declined to approximately 2000 cases/year. The incidence of anthrax is much lower today than it was in the 20th century because many countries have not reported any recent cases.
There is a possibility that the disease infection will spread throughout the body and result in serious illness. Anyone who comes into contact with anthrax spores has a chance of getting sick, although the risk is higher for those who frequently work with animals, such as those who raise cattle, work as veterinarians, or handle animal products. The risk of exposure to humans, cattle, and wildlife remains considerable even though the infection rate has decreased in the 21st century.
The presence of anthrax in a region can cause problems for the local population because it affects not only people’s health but also their economic well-being, especially those who depend on cattle. Anthrax is a particular type of strategically infectious animal illness that causes significant animal mortality, monetary losses, and societal instability.
Prevention
Efforts to prevent the spread of anthrax can be carried out, among others, by routinely vaccinating livestock every year or according to the recommendations of the competent authority, reporting to health officials if they find meat that is slimy, smelly, and dull in color, complying with the Standard Operational Procedure and rules from the competent authority if you are going to add new livestock, separate sick animals from healthy livestock, avoid direct contact with animals suspected of being infected with anthrax, do not perform autopsies or surgeries on the carcasses of animals that have died from anthrax, cook meat until perfectly cooked, and the animals that died must be burned or buried deep.
The public can take several precautions to prevent anthrax infection, such as purchasing and eating meat that has been legally certified as having been killed at a slaughterhouse, eating healthy, properly cooked animal meat, and washing hands with antiseptic soap after handling, processing, and cooking animal goods.
The public must immediately report to a livestock officer or animal health center if they encounter sick or sudden death of livestock. Cows exhibiting these symptoms should be confined immediately and given large doses of penicillin for 45 days. In addition, people are not allowed to take sick animals outside the area so that the disease does not spread to other areas, and they should clean themselves with soap or disinfectant immediately after contact with sick or dead animals.
Counseling
Counseling can be used to raise public awareness, and it should be preceded with a knowledge, attitude, and practice survey to gauge public opinion about anthrax. The foundation of anthrax control is vaccinating livestock using part of the bacterial toxin that has been purified or killed. The majority of vaccinations are carried out on susceptible livestock in endemic areas. In addition, early anthrax infection can be treated using antibiotics.
In the event of an outbreak, rapid measures are needed to reduce the effects, prevent environmental contamination and human exposure, and prompt and effective diagnosis and treatment of animals and humans infected with anthrax. Furthermore, public health organizations need to be more aware of the monitoring, inspection, and packaging of animal products, as a lack of knowledge may increase the risk of food contamination by pathogens, which can harm consumers.
Anthrax is a dangerous infectious disease. B. anthracis spores are resistant to extreme environments, making it a potential biological weapon. The transmission of these bacterial spores through aerosols can lead to fatal consequences that are difficult to diagnose and treat. Counseling can be used to raise public awareness of anthrax, and it should be preceded by a knowledge, attitude, and practice survey to gauge public opinion.
Author: Prof. Dr. Mustofa Helmi Effendi, drh., DTAPH
Detailed information about this research can be found in our article at:
Khairullah AR, Kurniawan SC, Effendi MH, Widodo A, Hasib A, Silaen OSM, Moses IB, Yanestria SM, Gelolodo MA, Kurniawati DA. Ramandinianto SC, Afnani DA, Riwu KHP, and Ugbo EN (2024) Anthrax disease burden: Impact on animal and human health, Int. J. One Health, 10(1): 45–55.
doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/IJOH.2024.45-55
Also read: Peran Sinyal Wnt pada Penyembuhan Luka Pencabutan Gigi
