Anthrax and Smallpox

One major going between the pathogens that attempt anthrax and smallpox is that anthrax is a represent of bacteria while smallpox is an example of a computer virus, Anthrax is caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis.B. anthracis was the first bacterium which was shown to cause affection by Robert Koch in 1877. B. anthracis has two forms vegetative and spore state. In its spore state, the bacteria posterior redact dormant for years. When the spore enters a host, the bacterium reactivates into its vegetative state and then cause distemper. It is the spores of the bacterium which is used as a biological weapon.Smallpox on the early(a) hand caused by the variola virus. Unlike anthrax which is communicated via its spore state, smallpox virus is directly communicated directly from host to host via respiratory droplets or adjoin with bodily fluids. Smallpox is a biological weapon due to the thriving efforts of the WHO to eradicate the disease. With smallpox eliminated, no one h as any immunity from the disease and the release of a smallpox sample will have foreboding(a) effects on the population.2. Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Plague is pervade to human hosts after being bit by fleas which demand the disease or through contact with infected animals. While causing intense deaths in Europe during the Middle Ages, modern day disgust is curable with antibiotics though it can still be lethal when left untreated.To this day, villainy outbreaks argon still caused by flea infested rat populations. In rural areas, squirrels and other known flea vectors are known carriers of the plague bacteria.Anthrax as mentioned spreads as spores which are reactivated once inside a host. The environment rich in sugars and aminic acids triggers the reversal of the spores into an active state. Anthrax can enter the body in three ways through inahalation, digestion or through entry in small cracks in the skin.3. The role of the WHO in preparing for an thrax is that of a return tank. The WHO cannot directly move to prevent the spread of anthrax in countries tho it offers valuable aid for the anti-anthrax actions of member countries in the UN. It acts as a easily respected adviser on anthrax related issues.We can bet of the WHO as providing a service for the anti-biological weapon efforts of the UN member countries. Some of the service the WHO provides include training activities, disseminating information and providing a number of experts to aid in the identification, diagnosis and treatment of anthrax outbreaks. These services are provided to member countries and medical laboratories worldwide.4. The most pressing factor for the spread of plague are rats. Rats carry fleas which are the vectors for the disease. Apart from rats, some contributing factors to plague outbreaks include incidences of poverty, war, and obliging disturbances. A weak public health infrastructure as swell as poor facilities are also contributing facto rs to the spread of plague into an outbreak.The best way to manage a plague outbreak is through rapid identification and localization. With rapid treatment and action, the mortality levels of plague can be reduced from 60% to less than 15%. To aid with the affectionate actions on plague, a rapid diagnostic screen out has been developed.The new test reduces confirmation from 15 days down to 15 minutes. With rapid confirmation, the politics can more quickly respond to the outbreaks of plague and prevent boost contamination of the population.BibliographyUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center Center for Biosecurity. (October 8, 2007) Smallpox occurrence Sheet. In Center for Biosecurity. Retrieved November 10, 2008 from http//www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/focus/agents_diseases/fact_sheets/smallpox.htmlUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center Center for Biosecurity. (October 8, 2007) Anthrax Fact Sheet. In Center for Biosecurity. Retrieved November 10, 2008 from http//www.upmc-bio security.org/website/focus/agents_diseases/fact_sheets/anthrax.html