An Anthrax Primer

How serious is an anthrax infection?

There are two major forms of anthrax infection in humans, cutaneous anthrax and inhalation anthrax. Although inhalation anthrax is much more serious, both forms can be treated effectively with antibiotics. As with many medical conditions, treatment is most successful when begun early. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic has been ciprofloxacin (cipro).

According to Bayer, the maker of ciprofloxacin, the drug works by interfering with DNA gyrase. This is an enzyme in anthrax that is used for DNA replication. It is possible for anthrax to develop resistance to the antibiotic through mutations of this enzyme. Fortunately, scientists and public health officials are aware of this potential problem. While some strains of anthrax can only be managed with cipro, many strains are also responsive to other antibiotics. One such antibiotic is doxycycline, which is now being used in place of cipro in many cases.

This is a challenging question, which has been discussed recently in depth by medical professionals atthe Centers for Disease Control. One clue is that anthrax victims usually don't have runny noses. Secondly, laboratory work can be done to determine a patient's blood composition. The CDC has noticed that white cell counts are often above normal in anthrax cases, while they are usually near or below normal in other viral infections.

Also, if a doctor has a patient who works at a mail processing facility or has recently visited a building where anthrax has been detected, then he/she will have a good reason to suspect anthrax and request appropriate tests to confirm the infection.

Above all, be careful with your mail, especially packages that appear suspicious. Examples include packages with stains or crystallizations or packages from an unknown sender in a foreign country. It is worth knowing that simple actions such as washing your hands with soap and hot water or taking a shower can reduce the chance of encountering some forms of anthrax.

If you're looking for the latest information, the Internet is the way to go. Make sure to stick to credible sources such as major news organizations or government web pages. An excellent website is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Some of the information on this site is geared for clinical professionals, but is also useful to normal citizens. For information specifically geared toward the Cornell University community.

There is nothing wrong with being concerned about the current situation. Recently, we have learned about incidents in Warren Hall, Olin Library, and Uris Library. It is important to be vigilant and knowledgeable about anthrax and other potential safety issues. One cannot say with 100 percent certainty that Cornellians won't be inconvenienced by "anthrax scares". Realize that all incidents have the potential to be serious but the majority are not. How many times have you been in a building when a fire alarm went off, only to return ten minutes later after learning it was a false alarm?

To wrap up, do not spread information about anthrax incidents unless you are sure about the facts. On November 2, I learned about the anthrax scare in Warren Hall from a student walking the other way while I was walking to my 1:25 class. It wasn't until 10:00 that night that I received the university alert e-mail setting all the facts straight. Until I knew for sure from an official source that there was nothing to worry about, I was a little uneasy. Rumors can make people uncomfortable and put them on edge, which is exactly what terrorists want. If you can keep the facts straight, you're doing the best possible thing under the circumstances.

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