Anthrax Vaccine

Louis Pasteur produced the first anthrax vaccine in 1881. He injected 25 animals with a weakened living form of the anthrax bacteria. The animals not given the vaccine that were exposed to anthrax died while the ones given the vaccine lived.

Louis Pasteur

Koch studied Bacillus anthracis and found that the spores were able to survive for a long period of time. Koch conducted other steps that ended up being known as Koch's postulates which shows the relationship between a microorganism and a disease.

Robert Koch

1877

The first anthrax vaccine created for humans was tested on a group of goat hair mill workers. The test subjects were followed for a 2 year time period and it was determined that the vaccine was 92.5% effective in preventing cutaneous anthrax.

1950s

Cutaneous anthrax was first described clinically by Maret in 1752 then Fournier in 1769.

1700s

Anthrax is believed to have originated in Egypt & Mesopotamia causing what is known as the 5th plague. This affected animals such as horses, cattle, camels and sheep.

Anthrax Defined

Anthrax can be a very serious disease which is caused by a rod shaped bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. It is gram-positive. It is most commenly found in soil and and affects both wild and domestic animals. People can be infected by being in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

Types of Anthrax

1. Cutaneous anthrax, which is when anthrax spores get into skin. It is the most common form and is considered the least dangerous.

2. Inhalation anthrax, is when a person breathes in anthrax spores. This is considered the most dangerous and most deadly form.

3.Gastrointestinal anthrax, is when a person eats raw or undercooked meat from an animal that is infected with anthrax.

4. Injection Anthrax, which is a newer occurance and has not been seen here in the U.S. This has been reported in IV drug users in Northern Europe at injection sites.

Once the Anthrax spores enter the body the spores are activated and become baceria and multiply. Anthrax has two factors, LT (lethal toxin) and ET (edema toxin). In the beginning of the infections these toxins allow the pathogen to establish infection. Then, the LT and ET begin to mutiply and gather rapidly. The patient will die if not given antibiotics quickly. The infection affects function of organs including heart, spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands, and brain.

How it works

Who is Eligible, Who Isnt?

People that should consider and qualify for the vaccine include: Those that work in a lab setting and work with the bacteria. People that may work with or may work with possibly infected animals. Military personal that are considered high risk, as well as some emergency and first responders that could possibly exposed to the bacteria.

Those that should not get this vaccine include: Pregnant women. Anyone that may have an allergy to one of the ingredients of the vaccine or anyone that is allergic to latex.

Vaccine

Accoring to VeryWell Health "Each dose of the vaccine includes bacterial proteins and aluminum. The vaccine does not contain egg proteins or thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative."

How it Works

Just like other vaccines, the anthrax vaccine trains the immune system to see and fight the anthrax bacteria. The molecules in the vaccine are called antigens. And when these are put into the body in small doses it teaches the body to produce antibodies so that when the bacteria reappears the immune system will recongize the infection and will attack the bacteria before it can spread.