Anthrax or anthrax is a bacterial infection that is transmitted from livestock, such as cows or goats. A person can get anthrax if they touch or eat the flesh of an animal infected with this disease.

Anthrax is a serious disease that can cause death. Even so, this disease is very rare. In addition, until now there is no evidence that the bacteria that cause anthrax can be transmitted between humans.

Causes of Anthrax
Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis that lives in the soil. This bacterium can attack grass-eating animals, such as cows, goats, sheep and horses.

Based on the mode of transmission, anthrax is divided into three types, namely:

Cutaneous anthrax
Cutaneous anthrax is contagious in people who have open sores on the skin. Transmission occurs when a person touches the skin, fur, bones or flesh of an infected animal. However, it is possible that a person can also become infected with cutaneous anthrax from contact with a wound on the skin of someone with anthrax.

Cutaneous anthrax is the most common type of anthrax, but is not dangerous. Symptoms of cutaneous anthrax develop 1–7 days after exposure.

Gastrointestinal anthrax
This type of anthrax occurs when a person eats the flesh of an animal that has been infected or died from anthrax, especially those that are undercooked. Gastrointestinal anthrax symptoms generally appear 1–7 days after exposure to the bacteria.

Respiratory anthrax
Respiratory anthrax is the most dangerous anthrax. A person can become infected with respiratory anthrax if they inhale dust (spores) of the anthrax bacteria, for example when processing fur or skin from livestock.

Infection due to respiratory anthrax usually develops 7 days to 2 months after exposure to the spores.

Anthrax risk factors
There are several factors that can increase a person's risk of being infected with anthrax, namely:

Activities in areas with high anthrax cases
Work in a place where leather, fur or meat from livestock is processed
Work as a breeder or animal caretaker
Worked as an anthrax researcher in a laboratory
Profession as a veterinarian, especially those who handle farm animals
Symptom
Symptoms of anthrax can vary, depending on the route of entry of the bacteria into a person's body. The following are some of the symptoms of anthrax based on how it is transmitted:

Cutaneous anthrax
Cutaneous anthrax is characterized by the appearance of many lumps on the skin which can be accompanied by itching. These lumps most often appear on the face, neck and arms. Furthermore, the lump can turn into a black ulcer that does not cause pain.