About

• Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus Anthracis, which is found in soil naturally. 
• Anthrax spores can remain dormant for years until they find their way into a host. Common hosts for anthrax include wild or domestic livestock, such as sheep, cattle, horses and goats.
• Anthrax is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it is naturally transmissible from animals to humans. People can get the disease through contact with infected animals or animal products that are contaminated with bacteria.
• When anthrax spores get inside the body, they can be “activated.” The bacteria can then multiply, spread out in the body, produce toxins, and cause severe illness. Symptoms include black sore, headaches, fever, breathing difficulties, vomiting of blood, diarrhea.
• According to the World Health Organization, Anthrax is generally regarded as non-contagious. There have been instances of person-to-person transmission, however, such instances are extremely rare.
• All types of anthrax infection can be treated with antibiotics.

Why in News?

• Five countries in East and southern Africa (Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) are in the middle of outbreaks of the anthrax disease.