Anthrax : Female Elephant Died
A female elephant died due to suspected anthrax at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve recently.
- Anthrax is a rare but serious illness caused by a spore-forming bacterium, Bacillus anthracis.
- It’s found naturally in soil around the world and commonly affects livestock and wild animals.
- The bacteria produce spores that can live in the ground for years.
- Livestock and wild animals can become infected when they breathe in, eat, or drink bacterial spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water.
- People usually get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.
- People can also get infected directly by the spores through food, water or soil.
- Anthrax isn’t transmitted from person to person but the skin lesions can be contagious though contact.
- Infection in humans most often involves the skin, gastrointestinal tract, or lungs.
- The disease manifests in three forms depending on the route of infection: cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and inhalational.
