What type of infection does anthrax cause?
The anthrax bacteria can cause 3 types if infection in humans depending on the way the spores enter the body. • Skin: a skin infection can result if the bacterium gets in through a cut or tear on the skin. Once it causes an infection, a rash is formed and the bacterium can possibly enter the blood stream This type of infection has a mortality rate of about 20% if untreated. • Gastro-intestinal: the spores enter the body through the stomach and intestines of after eating meet infected with anthrax. The mortality rate in untreated cases is thought to be between 25-60%. This is very rare in North America where meat is stringently controlled for infection. • Inhalation: the spores(in sufficient numbers and size) get into the lungs causing symptoms of a chest infection including, cough, difficulty breathing and fever. The anthrax bacterium can then get into the blood and dangerously infect the covering of the brain, causing meningitis. This form of anthrax is considered very deadly with a m
