Anthrax,Another Terrorist Weapon

 

反恐已经成为这个世纪最热门的词汇之一。

When one newspaper photo editor in Florida died of anthrax and another tested positive, people wondered if this was connected to the attacks of September 11. More cases are appearing around the U.S., but the FBI has yet to determine if these are terrorist attacks. However, recent events have brought one question to the minds of many—what is anthrax?


Anthrax is a disease that normally infects livestock killing almost every animal that contracts the disease. Humans that come into contact with these animals or their hides on a regular basis, such as ranchers, are at the greatest risk of getting this disease. This might be why anthrax is also known as the wool sorter’s disease. 　


Anthrax usually enters the body through the skin or by breathing. It cannot be spread from person to person, so it is not contagious. Anthrax is invisible to the naked eye and it has no smell or taste. The early symptoms of this disease are similar to those of the common cold. There is a vaccine for it that involves six shots. If it is caught in early stages, anthrax can be treated with antibiotics. 　


Anthrax, unlike the common cold, is not something that people catch every day. But if someone wanted to intentionally spread the disease, that’s another story.　

[注释]：
editor: one who edits, especially as an occupation 编辑，编者　
anthrax: an infectious, usually fatal disease characterized by ulcerative skin lesions 炭疽热（一种
传染病，由炭疽杆菌感染引起。通过与带病毒的动物部位如毛发、粪便、毛皮接触后可以
传染给人，病症为皮肤溃烂损伤）　
infect: to invade and produce infection in 传染，感染　
livestock: domestic animals 家畜，牲畜　
contract: to acquire or incur 感染　
rancher: one that owns or manages a ranch <美>牧场(或农场)主，农场工人　
sorter: to arrange according to class, kind, or size; classify 从事分类的人，这里指皮毛工人　
contagious: 传染性的，会感染的　
invisible: 看不见的，无形的　
naked: having no covering 无保护的，无遮盖的　
symptom: a characteristic sign or indication of the existence of something else 症状，征兆　
vaccine: 疫苗　
antibiotic: 抗生素, 抗生学　
intentionally: done deliberately; intended 有意地,故意地