Abstract
Anthrax, a toxigenic zoonosis, incidentally affecting humans has become rare but endemic
outbreaks still continue to occur in tropical countries like India, parts of South
America, and Europe where veterinary control of livestock is marginal and environmental
conditions favor an animal–soil–animal cycle. India, with its largest population of
livestock in the world, continues to have anthrax outbreaks with highest incidence
reported from south, and the authors have reported an outbreak of 23 cases from 1998
to 2001 from south India. Children outnumbered adults and most of them had lesions
on the exposed sites. However, there is a limited documentation of anthrax outbreaks
from India warranting the need for sensitizing and creating awareness among health
care professionals to identify and report these cases at the earliest so that appropriate
actions are taken. Anthrax continues to retain a certain fascination and notoriety
because of the potential for use of the bacillus spores in biologic warfare.
Keywords
chemical extract of anthrax - Bacillus anthracis - inhalational anthrax - bioterrorism
- injectional
