The woman, who fell sick early December, is now in a critical state.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DPHS) in New Hampshire and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating how the woman contracted the disease.
Suspected source of anthrax
Though the cause of anthrax has yet not been determined, the investigators believe that the source of disease could be African drums.
The woman took part in a drumming circle recently at the Waysmeet Center in Durham, leading to suspicion that she contracted the deadly infection from spores on the drums.
The drums are made of animal hides, which may be the source of naturally occurring anthrax.
Though there are no other case of anthrax reported, the health officials are urging African drum owners to have their drums tested for bacterial spores.
About the disease
Anthrax is an acute disease that affects both humans and animals, especially goats, cattle, sheep, and horses.
The cause of anthrax is a bacterium called bacillus anthracis. Under the microscope, the bacterium looks like large rods. However, they exist in form of spores, which are hardy and difficult to destroy.
There are three types of anthrax infections: respiratory or inhalational, cutaneous and gastroenteric.
Gastroenteric anthrax is mostly caused by eating undercooked, anthrax-infected meat and is characterized by extreme gastrointestinal difficulty, vomiting of blood, severe diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite.
The infection spreads throughout the body through the bloodstream carrying deadly toxicity.
Anthrax is not transmitted from humans. The infection is caused by spore that is ingested, inhaled or it enters through a cut in the skin.
Anthrax cases reported so far
Over the years, this form of disease has received a lot of attention as it has been found that the bacteria can also be transmitted by a boi-terrorist attack.
In 2001, anthrax attack took place in the nation, when anthrax-laced letters were sent to several journalists and two US Senators. The incident killed five people and infected 17 others.
Besides the terrorist attack, there have been 12 cases of naturally occurring anthrax reported in the nation since 1957.
In 1957, an outbreak occurred in a New Hampshire goat-hair processing plant, where nine cases of anthrax were reported. These included five cases of inhalational and four of cutaneous infection.
In 2006, a New York dancer and drum maker contracted the infection from African drums made with goat skin.
Again in 2007, two members of a family from Connecticut were treated for cutaneous anthrax. They also contacted the disease from the hides brought from Africa to make drums.
Post new comment