Now another 35-year-old female employee, who asked not to be identified, has also tested positive. Both Blanco and the unidentified employee are expected to make a full recovery.
Anthrax is a very rare human infection. No one has died of this disease in the past 25 years. It appears that Mr. Stevens got some mail containing anthrax spores. He must then have inhaled the spores upon opening the letter or package. So far this incident does not appear to be linked to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It could be due to a disgruntled employee or a person who did not like what The Sun had to say about them or their family. There are any number of possible reasons for this incident. Health and legal officials are still trying to sort out all the information.
A bacterium called Bacillus anthracis is the cause of anthrax. This bacterium produces three different proteins that can cause swelling and death in a person. These proteins are called protective, lethal, and edema factors. If the bacteria produce the protective factor and the lethal factor it can cause death. How lethal factor causes death was discovered recently. Go to, "How Anthrax Kills" for more information.
If the bacteria produce protective factor and edema factor it can cause the person to swell if the bacterial infection is in the skin. If the bacteria produce all three factors it can cause swelling and death.
Bacillus anthracis produces spores when it lacks the nutrients it needs to grow. These spores can survive for decades. Usually the Bacillus anthracis spores are what infect humans.
There are three different forms of anthrax in humans: cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalation anthrax. Cutaneous anthrax is the most common form. If Bacillus anthracis spores get into a wound the spores will change into growing bacterial cells (germinate). These bacterial cells then produce the three factors, causing a crater-like wound to form in the skin. This wound will initially be swollen and red. In time the center of the wound will turn black with a swollen edge. This wound is called a black eschar and is only found in cutaneous anthrax. It takes a large number of spores to cause a black eschar to develop. Antibiotics can be used to treat this infection. Treatment stops the spread of the bacteria to other parts of the body. Rarely, if ever, does one die from this infection if it is treated properly.
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