Any suspicious letters or packages popping up in the mail, containing any sight of white powder inside an envelope is triggering panic.

Doctors and hospitals here in the UK have been put on alert against the "serious" threat that bio-terrorists will launch an anthrax attack. The Public Health Laboratory Service has told them to report every severe, unexplained case of fever to the authorities. It has warned them to ensure that suspect packages and letters are taken to the police.

What is it and how is it spread?

Anthrax is a infectious disease, however not highly infectious, caused by Bacillus anthracis, a spore producing bacteria. The disease most commonly appears in plant-eating animals such as sheep, goats and cattle that become infected by anthrax spores in the soil. Humans typically contract anthrax from eating animals or animal products that have been exposed to anthrax. Anthrax can cause illness in humans from coming into contact with contaminated animals, eating improperly cooked meats, or by inhaling anthrax spores.

Usually occur within three to seven days of exposure The disease has three forms:

• Cutaneous anthrax: least serious of the three forms. Contracted through the skin; lesions quickly develop. If left untreated, blood poisoning can occur.
• Intestinal anthrax: caught by eating contaminated meat. Causes vomiting, fever and blood poisoning. Often fatal without treatment.
• Inhalation anthrax: early symptoms include toxic shock but can resemble those of a cold with symptoms appearing sometimes several weeks after exposure. Breathed in spores cause infection in the lungs. Nine in 10 may die.

In 1970 the World Health Organisation estimated that 50kg of anthrax spores released from an aircraft over a town would cause 250,000 cases. Outbreaks are rare, with only four reported cases in the UK since 1990. In the US, the last case of inhalation anthrax was in 1978. In 1979, release of spores from a military lab in the former Soviet Union led to 68 deaths.

Immediate treatment with penicillin or tetracycline is usually effective. Unfortunately, anthrax spores are extremely difficult to destroy. Everything that comes in contact with a person who has contracted anthrax must be sterilised. All contaminated animals and animal products must also be destroyed.

We will be producing a printable guide to Anthrax to assist in the detection/prevention, diagnosis and treatment. - A must for first aiders, trainers and occupational health staff. Also check out the Forum for discussions on Anthrax

Available to all members. - Join the First Aid Cafe here and keep up to date with important issues.