Anthrax

03.12.2024

Anthrax

Why in the news?

A female elephant died due to suspected anthrax at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve recently.

About Anthrax:

• It is a rare but serious illness caused by a spore-forming bacterium, Bacillus anthracis.
• It's found naturally in soil around the world and commonly affects livestock and wild animals. The bacteria produce spores that can live in the ground for years.

Transmission of the disease:

• Livestock and wild animals can become infected when they breathe in, eat, or drink bacterial spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water.
• People usually get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.
• People can also get infected directly by the spores through food, water or soil.
• Anthrax isn’t transmitted from person to person but the skin lesions can be contagious through contact.

Infection in humans most often involves the skin, gastrointestinal tract, or lungs.

• The disease manifests in three forms depending on the route of infection: cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and inhalational.
• Symptoms: Depending on the type, symptoms include:

○Chest pain and trouble breathing.

○Fever And profuse sweating.

○Headache or muscle aches.

○Itchy blisters or bumps.

○Skin ulcer (sore) with a black center.

○Nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea.

○Swollen lymph nodes.

Treatment of the disease:

• Antibiotic treatment is effective. Doxycycline, amoxycillin, ciprofloxacin, etc are generally used for the treatment.
• Vaccination against anthrax is only recommended for at-risk individuals, such as those working in anthrax-endemic areas.

                                                       Source: The Times of India

Consider the following statements regardingAnthrax:

Statement-I:It is a rare but serious bacterial illness that commonly affects livestock and wild animals.

Statement-II:There is currently no treatment available against anthrax.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.

D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Answer  C