Anthrax is a worldwide zoonosis disease that primarily affects herbivores such as cattle, sheep, goats, antelope and deer, which become infected by ingesting contaminated vegetation, water, or soil; humans are generally incidental hosts.
Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions in Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Southwestern Asia, and Southern and Eastern Europe. Anthrax is currently deemed rare in the United States and Canada; however, sporadic outbreaks occur every year in livestock and wild herbivores in these countries. The most commonly reported form (95%–99%) of anthrax in humans worldwide is cutaneous anthrax. Outbreaks of cutaneous and gastrointestinal anthrax have been associated with handling infected animals and butchering, also consuming meat from those animals. Such outbreaks are primarily reported from endemic areas in Asia and Africa. Cases of cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalation anthrax have been reported among people who have handled or played drums made with contaminated goat hides from countries prevalent for anthrax or who have been present at events where those drums have been played. Anthrax cases have also been reported among people making drums from contaminated goat hides imported from countries prevalent for anthrax, as well as members of their households exposed to environments contaminated by the drum-making process.
Severe soft tissue infections, including cases with sepsis and systemic infection, have been reported in drug users in Northern Europe and are suspected to be due to recreational use of heroin contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores. To date, no heroin has been found to be contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores in the United States.
After terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001, envelopes containing Bacillus anthracis spores were mailed to news media companies and government officials, leading to the first bioterrorism-related cases of anthrax in the United States. The reports combined findings from the epidemiologic and laboratory investigations of these cases conducted through coordinated efforts of medical and laboratory communities and local, state, and federal public health and law enforcement agencies.
Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions in Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Southwestern Asia, and Southern and Eastern Europe. Anthrax is currently deemed rare in the United States and Canada; however, sporadic outbreaks occur every year in livestock and wild herbivores in these countries. The most commonly reported form (95%–99%) of anthrax in humans worldwide is cutaneous anthrax. Outbreaks of cutaneous and gastrointestinal anthrax have been associated with handling infected animals and butchering, also consuming meat from those animals. Such outbreaks are primarily reported from endemic areas in Asia and Africa. Cases of cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalation anthrax have been reported among people who have handled or played drums made with contaminated goat hides from countries prevalent for anthrax or who have been present at events where those drums have been played. Anthrax cases have also been reported among people making drums from contaminated goat hides imported from countries prevalent for anthrax, as well as members of their households exposed to environments contaminated by the drum-making process.
Severe soft tissue infections, including cases with sepsis and systemic infection, have been reported in drug users in Northern Europe and are suspected to be due to recreational use of heroin contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores. To date, no heroin has been found to be contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores in the United States.
After terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001, envelopes containing Bacillus anthracis spores were mailed to news media companies and government officials, leading to the first bioterrorism-related cases of anthrax in the United States. The reports combined findings from the epidemiologic and laboratory investigations of these cases conducted through coordinated efforts of medical and laboratory communities and local, state, and federal public health and law enforcement agencies.