Anthrax

Anthrax Disease in Horses

It is a naturally occurring disease in animals due to bacteria found in the atmosphere. Though this disease is not common in the United States, people get sick from it if they are intact with other infected animals, such as horses. Therefore, people should be vaccinated who live in areas where there is anthrax disease.

How The Disease Spreads :

The horses are infected with Anthrax when they ingest spores from water, plants, or soil. People will also have Anthrax through a scrape or cut in the skin. However this disease is not contagious, but it might rarely spread from one to another.

Who Are At Risk?

Rarely, Anthrax occurs in the U.S., but some people are prone to Anthrax, such as laboratory professionals, livestock producers, veterinarians, and those who deal with animal products.

Signs Of Anthrax In Horses :

There are some signs of Anthrax that include fever, chills, severe colic, anorexia, weakness, bloody diarrhea, and swelling. The Anthrax is life-threatening for horses.

Symptoms Of Anthrax In People

The symptoms of Anthrax highly depend on the kind of infection, and it can take somewhere from 1 day to more than six weeks to appear.

1.     Skin Anthrax (Cutaneous) :

It is a group of bumps or blisters, a painless skin (ulcer) with a black scar in the center that appears as small blisters or swelling.

2.     Symptoms Of Anthrax In People

It causes shortness of breath, chills, fever, confusion, nausea, vomiting, headache, sweats, extreme tiredness, body aches, and chest discomfort. Anthrax is rare and associated with intentional spore release (bioterrorism).

3.     Ingestion Anthrax (Stomach And Intestines) :

It causes fever, chills, swelling of the neck, neck glands, sore throat, painful swallowing, bloody diarrhea, red face and eyes, and stomach pain. All kinds of Anthrax have the possibility of spreading throughout the body and causing illness or death if not treated.