Anthrax: What You Need To Know
In light of the anthrax scares in Florida, New York, and Washington, Americans are curious about this frightening disease. Anthrax is a disease that infects the skin, lungs, and gastro-intestinal tract. Some forms are easy to cure, but there is no reliable vaccine for the disease.
Anthrax that affects the skin is the least deadly of the disease's forms, being only 20% fatal. It enters the body through minor cuts or abrasions. Its symptoms include a rash, which starts as a welt or swelling, then becomes fluid-filled blister, then progresses to a black, ulcerous lesion lasting up to two weeks.
In this form of anthrax, the toxins attack surrounding tissue of the skin. The body then responds by sending immune cells strike invading microbes. Anthrax spreads because immune cells can carry microbes back to lymph nodes.
The deadliest of the three forms attacks the lungs. There is only a 10% chance of survival. Through inhalation, airborne spores settle in the alvioli, tiny sacs of the lungs. After contracting this type of Anthrax, you feel like you have a cold- fever, chest pain- however, these symptoms lead to breathing problems, shock, coma and death.
Anthrax bacteria attack the lungs by multiplying, then releasing toxins that cause bleeding and deterioration of the central chest cavity. This bacteria spreads because cells that were sent to attack microbes transport some back to lymph nodes.
The form of Anthrax that invades the GI Tract is very rare. It affects the upper and lower digestive tract, which includes the throat and gut. This enters the digestive system by undercooked, contaminated meat. Its effects include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, lost of appetite, fever, followed by severe cramps.
The bacteria and toxins eat away at intestinal lining, then spreading, therefore prompting an immune-cell attack. It spreads through intestines because immune cells carry microbes to lymph nodes.
Since no vaccine is available to people other than scientists and military personnel, people who are exposed to Anthrax will probably be infected. If someone thinks they have been exposed, there are necessary measures that they need to take. First, they must call a doctor or their local health department. Then they must take a lab test to determine if they have been infected. If they are infected, drugs to treat their infection should be obtained quickly.
There are four different lab tests that are thought to identify anthrax, however only one of the tests is being used on anyone currently. DNA based detectors, which is a prototype machine that can identify virulent strains of anthrax by DNA. Mass spectrometry involves a machine that can isolate submicroscopic samples and spots anthrax's molecular profile. The "dog's nose" project, a test that has synthetic compounds that instantly glow when they "smell" distinctive particles. Antibody-based tests have antibodies on strips of paper that interact with spores and change color. This is the only test being used on people at this point in time.
Anthrax is a disease that has become very well known in the world recently. However, despite the terrorist letters, the chances of someone becoming infected are still extremely slim. So, if a person receives a letter that is full of white powder, then yes, he or she should be worried. But otherwise, no one should become scared that they might have anthrax, because chances are they don't. Taking pills such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) can cause more damage than good if you haven't been diagnosed. Anthrax is a frightening disease, but the best thing people can do right now is to learn as much about it as possible.
Abortion
I am debating about abortion, and whether it is moral or not. I am pro-choice, making me the "pro" side of the debate. I think that people should understand that being pro-choice doesn't necessarily mean you like abortion, it just means that you believe women have the right to choose.
I believe abortion should be legal because I think that no one except the mother should be able to decide if she wants to have the baby or not. Until men can actually give birth to a baby, I do not want them making decisions that only affect women. Secondly, it is totally the woman's choice and if she decides to have an abortion, then she will deal with the consequences. Most importantly, if a woman if raped, or if she is going to experience trouble birthing the child, then she shouldn't have the baby on her behalf. There are many different opinions on abortion, but the most important is that no matter what, it is the woman's choice and her choice alone.
I think it is unfair for males, like the President or Government workers, to be making decisions that only affect the women. They cannot give birth to a baby, so they have absolutely no idea what it feels like for the women. It is a choice for only the mother, and no one else. Of course, if she is married and wishes to have an abortion for some reason, then the father should have some say. However, in under almost every other condition it should be only the mother's choice.
If a woman believes she is not emotionally stable to have a child, or that she will not be a responsible mother, than it is her choice to have the baby or not. It would be better if the baby wasn't born to a mother who doesn't care or abuses the child. Another good reason is if she has a hereditary disease, like a type of STD, than she knows the baby will be sick and maybe she doesn't want the baby to go through that.
I think there are certain circumstances that there should be no arguement over abortion. How many times have we heard of teenagers being raped? Or anyone for that matter? It is unfair for us to expect the woman to have the baby when she didn't want it in the first place. Or, maybe their will be problems birthing the child. Maybe the woman has a disease that could kill her if she tried to give birth to a baby.
While these reasons are some of the main reasons I am pro-choice, there are many others. Many people believe that abortion should be legal in certain circumstances, which is understandable but it still doesn't give women the full choice of their own. Others believe it wouldn't be fair for the baby to have a mother that wouldn't want or would mistreat the child if it was born. Another reason, while not as popular as others, is that it is unfair that men have an enormous input on the decisions that regard women and women only. Abortion, while some may not see it as a good thing, gives women the right to choose to keep a child or not if they are in some way unable to have the baby.
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