Infectious disease expert: anthrax is rarely transmitted from person to person, scientific prevention is the key

Infectious disease expert: anthrax is rarely transmitted from person to person, scientific prevention is the key

Infectious disease expert: scientific prevention of anthrax is the key to human-to-human transmission

Science and Technology Daily reporter Jie Manbin

Since August this year, confirmed cases of anthrax have appeared in many parts of the country, and the frequent diagnosis of anthrax cases has aroused widespread concern in the society
.

What are the symptoms of anthrax virus infection? What is the route of infection? How to prevent it?

Recently, a reporter from Science and Technology Daily interviewed Mao Xiaorong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Lanzhou University First Hospital, deputy director of the Institute of Infectious Diseases, Lanzhou University First Hospital, and director of the infectious disease teaching and research section
.

What is anthrax? What are the symptoms of human infection?

What is anthrax? What are the symptoms of human infection?

Mao Xiaorong introduced that anthrax is an infectious disease.
It is an animal-borne infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis infection.
It mainly occurs in herbivores, especially cattle, horses, and sheep
.

Humans are infected mainly through contact with sick animals and their excreta or eating the meat of sick animals

The reporter found in the "Anthrax Disease Overview" on the official website of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The bacterium was first discovered by Robert Koch in 1877
.

According to the "National Anthrax Surveillance Program" issued by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, anthrax is a natural foci disease caused by Bacillus anthracis.

There are three main clinical types of anthrax: cutaneous anthrax, pulmonary anthrax and intestinal anthrax, which sometimes cause anthrax sepsis and meningitis, of which cutaneous anthrax is the most common
.

Among the reported cases, cutaneous anthrax was found in Binzhou, Shandong and Luliang, Shanxi
.

Cutaneous anthrax lesions are more common on the exposed skin of the face, neck, shoulders, hands and feet; mainly manifested as local skin edema, macules or papules, blisters, ulcers and eschars; pain is not obvious, slightly itching, no abscesses Formed

The confirmed case reported in Beijing from Chengde, Hebei was pulmonary anthrax
.

Pulmonary anthrax initially has "flu-like" symptoms, manifested by low-grade fever, fatigue, general malaise, myalgia, and cough, which usually lasts about 48 hours

Why do I get anthrax? How to treat?

Why do I get anthrax? How to treat?

Mao Xiaorong believes that irregular livestock vaccination, non-strict quarantine and unscientific slaughter methods may be the main causes of anthrax infection
.

Anthrax diseased animals and dead animal carcasses are the main sources of infection of anthrax.
The blood, feces, urine, milk, internal organs and bones of sick animals can contain a large amount of Bacillus anthracis.
Humans are killing and stripping disease.
When an animal is sick, or when it comes into contact with objects that may be contaminated by the blood or excrement of the sick animal, the bacteria may enter the body through tiny wounds on the skin and cause infection
.

Anthrax can also be infected by mouth, mainly caused by ingestion of contaminated food containing the bacteria.
This is mostly related to eating habits and food processing, such as air-dried beef that has not been processed by high heat
.

Anthrax can also cause pulmonary anthrax due to inhalation of dust and aerosols contaminated with anthrax spores.

"Of the cases discovered so far, most of the people infected with anthrax are herders or people who are engaged in breeding and slaughtering cattle, sheep and livestock and selling related products.
People who are engaged in fur processing can also be infected with anthrax
.

" Mao Xiaorong said

"The most basic medicine for treating anthracnose is penicillin.
There is no special medicine
.

"

Among infectious diseases, although anthrax is relatively contagious, its transmission routes are limited.
People do not need to panic.
Early detection and early treatment have a higher cure rate.
However, if it is not diagnosed and treated in time, the mortality rate of anthrax is higher
.

Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare, and scientific prevention is the key
.

Meanwhile, Mao Xiaorong, director of quality control center or infectious disease, Gansu Province, Gansu Province, director of infection Diseases Society of Medical Committee , will appear for the "person to person" phenomenon, Mao Xiaorong said: "The spread between people rare, the current There are no reports of human-to-human transmission
.

"

Committee member

"Anthrax is a natural foci, which is mainly transmitted from animals to humans, and it is generally not transmitted from person to person
.

Herdsmen or people engaged in breeding and slaughtering cattle, sheep and livestock, and people who sell related products, and special practitioners who have more contact with animals should be vaccinated.
Ordinary people do not need to be vaccinated
.

"As to whether to get anthrax vaccine, Mao Xiaorong said
.

Anthrax is preventable, curable and controllable, and the most important thing is scientific prevention
.
According to the prompts of disease control in many places, the most important thing to prevent anthrax is not to contact the source of infection.
At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the quarantine and supervision of livestock circulation and slaughter, and the punishment of illegal acts
.