Editing Anthrax (section)

== Prevention ==
Precautions are taken to avoid contact with the skin and any fluids exuded through natural body openings of a deceased body that is suspected of harboring anthrax.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/anthrax/controlandprevention.html|title=Safety and Health Topics {{!}} Anthrax – Control and Prevention {{!}} Occupational Safety and Health Administration|website=www.osha.gov|access-date=22 December 2019|archive-date=22 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222225809/https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/anthrax/controlandprevention.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The body should be put in strict quarantine. A blood sample is collected and sealed in a container and analyzed in an approved laboratory to ascertain if anthrax is the cause of death. The body should be sealed in an airtight body bag and incinerated to prevent the transmission of anthrax spores. Microscopic visualization of the encapsulated bacilli, usually in very large numbers, in a blood smear stained with polychrome methylene blue (McFadyean stain) is fully diagnostic, though the culture of the organism is still the gold standard for diagnosis. Full isolation of the body is important to prevent possible contamination of others.<ref name=":1" />

Protective, impermeable clothing and equipment such as [[rubber glove]]s, rubber apron, and rubber boots with no perforations are used when handling the body. No skin, especially if it has any wounds or scratches, should be exposed. Disposable personal protective equipment is preferable, but if not available, decontamination can be achieved by autoclaving. Used disposable equipment is burned and/or buried after use. All contaminated bedding or clothing is isolated in double plastic bags and treated as biohazard waste.<ref name=":1" /> Respiratory equipment capable of filtering small particles, such the US [[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]]- and [[Mine Safety and Health Administration]]-approved high-efficiency respirator, is worn.<ref>{{cite web | work = National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory | url = https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/default.html | title = Respirators | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170731101026/https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/default.html | archive-date=31 July 2017 | publisher = National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health | date = 30 April 2009 }}</ref> By addressing Anthrax from a [[One Health]] perspective, we can reduce the risks of transmission and better protect both human and animal populations.<ref>{{Cite book |author1=World Health Organization |url=https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/325620 |title=Taking a multisectoral, one health approach: a tripartite guide to addressing zoonotic diseases in countries |author2=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |author3=World Organisation for Animal Health |date=2019 |publisher=IRIS  |isbn=978-92-4-151493-4 |language=en |access-date=8 October 2023 |archive-date=14 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014150959/https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/325620 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The prevention of anthrax from the environmental sources like air, water, & soil is disinfection used by [[effective microorganisms]] through spraying, and [[bokashi (horticulture)|bokashi mudballs]] mixed with effective microorganisms for the contaminated waterways.

=== Vaccines ===
{{Main|Anthrax vaccines}}
Vaccines against anthrax for use in livestock and humans have had a prominent place in the history of medicine. The French scientist [[Louis Pasteur]] developed the first effective veterinary [[Anthrax vaccines|vaccine]] in 1881.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisville.edu/library/ekstrom/special/pasteur/cohn.html|access-date=13 August 2008|title=Life and Times of Louis Pasteur|date=11 February 1996| vauthors = Cohn DV |publisher=School of Dentistry, [[University of Louisville]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080408070236/http://louisville.edu/library/ekstrom/special/pasteur/cohn.html |archive-date = 8 April 2008}}</ref><ref name="Mikesell1983">{{Cite journal | vauthors = Mikesell P, Ivins BE, Ristroph JD, Vodkin MH, Dreier TM, Leppla SH |title=Plasmids, Pasteur, and Anthrax |year=1983 |journal=ASM News |volume=49 |pages=320–22 |url=https://www.asm.org/ccLibraryFiles/FILENAME/0000000221/490783p320.pdf |access-date=8 June 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808125915/https://www.asm.org/ccLibraryFiles/FILENAME/0000000221/490783p320.pdf |archive-date=8 August 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://german.about.com/library/blerf_koch.htm |title=Robert Koch (1843–1910) |publisher=About.com |access-date=13 August 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080705230619/http://german.about.com/library/blerf_koch.htm| archive-date= 5 July 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Human anthrax vaccines were developed by the [[Soviet Union]] in the late 1930s and in the US and UK in the 1950s. The current FDA-approved US vaccine was formulated in the 1960s.<ref>{{cite book | collaboration = Institute of Medicine (US) Committee to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of the Anthrax Vaccine | chapter = Executive Summary |date=2002 | title = The Anthrax Vaccine: Is It Safe? Does It Work? | chapter-url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK220527/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |publisher=National Academies Press (US) |language=en | vauthors = Joellenbeck LM, Zwanziger LL, Durch JS, Strom BL  }}</ref>

Currently administered human anthrax vaccines include [[acellular vaccine|acellular]] [[subunit vaccine]] (United States) and [[live vaccine]] (Russia) varieties. All currently used anthrax vaccines show considerable local and general [[reactogenicity]] ([[erythema]], [[induration]], [[soreness]], [[fever]]) and serious adverse reactions occur in about 1% of recipients.<ref name="Splino_2005">{{cite journal | vauthors = Splino M, Patocka J, Prymula R, Chlibek R | title = Anthrax vaccines | journal = Annals of Saudi Medicine | volume = 25 | issue = 2 | pages = 143–149 | date = 2005 | pmid = 15977694 | pmc = 6147967 | doi = 10.5144/0256-4947.2005.143 | url = }}</ref> The American product, BioThrax, is licensed by the FDA and was formerly administered in a six-dose primary series at 0, 2, 4 weeks and 6, 12, 18 months, with annual boosters to maintain immunity. In 2008, the FDA approved omitting the week-2 dose, resulting in the currently recommended five-dose series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fda.gov/biologicsbloodvaccines/vaccines/approvedproducts/ucm124462.htm |title=11 December 2008 Approval Letter |publisher=Food and Drug Administration |access-date=8 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629030005/https://www.fda.gov/biologicsbloodvaccines/vaccines/approvedproducts/ucm124462.htm |archive-date=29 June 2017 }}</ref> This five-dose series is available to military personnel, scientists who work with anthrax and members of the public who do jobs which cause them to be at-risk.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-18 |title=Vaccine to Prevent Anthrax {{!}} CDC |url=https://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/prevention/vaccine/index.html |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=www.cdc.gov |language=en-us |archive-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125225025/https://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/prevention/vaccine/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> New second-generation vaccines currently being researched include [[recombinant live vaccine]]s and [[recombinant subunit vaccine]]s. In the 20th century the use of a modern product ([[BioThrax]]) to protect American troops against the use of anthrax in [[biological warfare]] was controversial.<ref name=anthraxmilitary>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-dec-23-na-anthrax23-story.html |title=Military to Halt Anthrax Shots | vauthors = Schrader E |date=23 December 2003 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=26 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226203911/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/dec/23/nation/na-anthrax23 |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Antibiotics ===
Preventive antibiotics are recommended in those who have been exposed.<ref name=Hend2014/> Early detection of sources of anthrax infection can allow preventive measures to be taken. In response to the [[2001 anthrax attacks|anthrax attacks of October 2001]], the [[United States Postal Service]] (USPS) installed biodetection systems (BDSs) in their large-scale mail processing facilities. BDS response plans were formulated by the USPS in conjunction with local responders including fire, police, hospitals, and public health. Employees of these facilities have been educated about anthrax, response actions, and [[prophylaxis|prophylactic]] medication. Because of the time delay inherent in getting final verification that anthrax has been used, prophylactic antibiotic treatment of possibly exposed personnel must be started as soon as possible.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}