Saturday, January 06, 2007

Bacillus anthracis


Hello, I'm B. anthracis.
I'm a Gram Positive rod that can form a spore.
I can live in the soil for years and still be dangerous.
I cause anthrax.
I kill cattle and horses and humans that touch the animals.

I can act in three different ways.
When I get through your skin I make a black scab and fever.
When I'm inhaled I look like flu, but then I suddenly get you in 24 hours.
I get into your gut in uncooked meat.

If you don't take antibiotics, I'm almost always fatal.
Because I kill quickly, I'm sometimes used by armies as a biological weapon.