Subscriber Login   Users   Administrators
Integrated cloud-based solutions for clinical laboratories

Anthrax Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.

These are the MediaLab courses that cover Anthrax and links to relevant pages within the course.

Learn more about laboratory continuing education for medical technologists to earn CE credit for AMT, ASCP, NCA, and state license renewal and recertification. Or get information about laboratory safety and compliance courses that deliver cost-effective OSHA safety training and continuing education to your laboratory's employees.



Introduction to Bioterrorism
The early symptoms of anthrax include:View Page
Category A Agents

Category A agents include: Smallpox (variola major) Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) Plague (Yersinia pestis) Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin) Tularaemia (Francisella tularensis) Ebola hemorrhagic fever Marburghemorrhagic fever Lassa fever Argentine hemorrhagic fever

View Page
Agent: Anthrax (Bacterium)

Most likely means of dissemination: In a solid state Primary route of entry: Inhalation (also ingestion and absorption) General signs and symptoms: Early symptoms are flu-like—chills, fever, nausea, and swelling of lymph nodes.

View Page
Why Biological Agents Would Not Be Chosen as WMDs

They are not immediate. The delayed effect, for example, the long incubation period for some agents, may detract and limit their tactful usefulness as a political statement.They are hazardous to all who come in contact.There is the possibility that the biological agents could also affect the health of the aggressor forces.They are hard to control.The dependence of prevailing winds and other weather conditions such as temperature, sunlight, and desiccation may make it difficult to control distribution of the biological agent.Potential long term effects beyond the initial attack.The persistence of some agents such as spore-forming anthrax in the environment may make an area uninhabitable to aggressor forces for long periods.Results are unpredictable.Morbidity secondary to a biological attack is unpredictable since casualties will be related to the quantity and manner of exposure plus the preventive and treatment measures available.

View Page
Early symptoms of inhaled Anthrax includeView Page
Your Response – At Work

Recent events, including the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and the subsequent bioterrorist releases of anthrax, have been a harsh awakening that the nation’s workplaces could be terrorist targets.Traditionally laboratory safety guidelines have emphasized use of optimal work practices, appropriate containment equipment, well-designed facilities, and administrative controls to minimize risks of unintentional infection or injury for laboratory workers. Today, in addition to the above, laboratories must make a risk and threat assessment, secure data and electronic technology systems, plus develop policies regarding specimen accountability, facility security, and emergency response.The next few pages will cover a number of things that you can do to assist in making your laboratory more risk free to a terrorist attack and some things you can do in case that security is breached. You too have a role in the security of your workplace!

View Page

Preliminary Identification of the Primary Select Agents of Bioterrorism
Location Where Organisms Naturally Occur, Disease Produced, and Mode of Transmission

These organisms can be encountered outside of a bioterrorism event and produce human disease. It's important to be familiar with the geographic areas where these organisms naturally occur and the how disease is transmitted.Bacillus anthracis: Bacillus species inhabit the soil, water, and airborne dust. Anthrax is the disease produced, which is transmitted to humans via direct contact with infected herbivorous animals. This is where the disease is primarily encountered. Anthrax is controlled in animals in the United States, so the disease is rare. In humans, most cases are cutaneous infections found in people that handle animals and animal products, including veterinarians and agricultural workers. Anthrax is consistently present in the animal population of some geographical regions, such as Iran and Pakistan, but only small numbers of animals experience the disease at any given time. Yersinia pestis: Y. pestis is found primarily in rodents, but can also be found in several animal species, such as cats, rabbits, camels, squirrels. Animal to human transmission most commonly occurs via a flea bite, causing the most common form of the disease known as the bubonic plague. Human-to-human transmission occurs by either flea bite or respiratory droplets. This causes an overwhelming disease known as pneumonic plague, which is the most likely form that would be implicated in the event of a bioterrorist attack. Human cases of the plague continue to occur in many countries, including Africa, the southwestern United States, parts of Asia, and the former Soviet Union. Francisella tularensis: Many animals, including rodents, rabbits, deer, and raccoons act as host for this organism. Humans and domesticated animals, such as horses, cattle, cats, and dogs can become infected. The infection is transmitted to domesticated animals by ticks and biting flies. Humans are most commonly infected from the bite of an infected tick or fly. Other means of infection include direct contact with the blood of infected animals when skinning game, eating contaminated meat, drinking contaminated water, or inhaling the organisms produced by aerosols. F. tularensis carries a high risk of laboratory acquired infection and documented cases of infection have occurred. Most cases of tularemia are reported in the southern and south-central United States.

View Page
Match the organism to the disease produced outside a bioterrorism event.View Page
Category A Agents: Reasons Why They May be Used to Create Public Health Emergencies

Anthrax (B. anthracis): Inhalation of anthrax spores is virtually 100% fatal Spores can remain infectious for decadesBotulism: Most lethal toxic agent known Toxin could be used to contaminate food supplies Can be aerosolized in enclosed areasPneumonic Plague (Y. pestis): Aerosolized in large amounts Short incubation period, usually in less than three days, and invariably fatal without early and effective antimicrobial therapy Untreated, fatality rate exceeds 90% Disease is spread from direct exposure to respiratory droplets of infected humansSmallpox: Highly contagious and deliberate spread by aerosol is extremely infectious Mass panic would be createdTularemia (F. tularensis): Highly contagious and easily spread An aerosol containing as few as 25 organisms can cause infection Easily penetrates the smallest breaks in the skinViral Hemorrhagic Fever: Causes internal and external bleeding and would likely cause great panic and easily spread by direct contact with body fluids or respiratory droplets Outbreak due to bioterrorist attack could lead to mass illness and death

View Page


MediaLab, Inc.

http://www.MediaLabInc.net    |    (877) 776-8460 (tollfree)    |    sales@medialabinc.net