Anthrax Information for Health Professionals

Anthrax signs and symptoms, exposure and prophylaxis, infection control, images, treatment, and use as a bioterrorism agent.

Reporting

• Reporting Anthrax
  Physicians in Minnesota must report Anthrax immediately, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Guidance

• Infection Control
  Standard precautions are needed for most Anthrax exposure, use contact precautions for cutaneous and gastrointestinal anthrax if diarrhea is not contained. Precautions are explained, along with information on the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). 
  
   
• CDC: Clinical Care of Anthrax
  Incubation, signs and symptoms, treatment, and precautions for cutaneous, inhalation, gastrointestinal , and oropharyngeal anthrax.
  
   
• Pediatric Anthrax Clinical Management
  From the American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report.

Emergency Preparedness

• Medical Countermeasures
  In emergencies such as terrorist attacks or pandemics, large numbers of people may be exposed to disease-causing germs. Medical countermeasures (MCMs) are medicines (i.e. antibiotics, antivirals, antitoxins, etc.) that may be given to these exposed people to prevent them from becoming ill. MDH then works with local health departments to dispense the MCMs to the public at points of dispensing (POD) sites. 
  Currently, MDH offers a POD PreCheck online screening tool people may complete during an anthrax emergency.