Story: Diseases of sheep, cattle and deer

Anthrax in humans

Anthrax in humans

Anthrax is a bacterium that can live as spores in the soil for decades or even centuries until ingested by a host. It cannot be spread from human to human. The name anthrax is taken from the Greek word for coal because of the black skin lesions developed by victims after infection. This farmer with anthrax, pictured in 1903, subsequently died from the disease.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference: Annual report: New Zealand Department of Agriculture (1903)

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How to cite this page:

Gary Clark, Neville Grace and Ken Drew, 'Diseases of sheep, cattle and deer - Sheep diseases: worms, scab and anthrax', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/17425/anthrax-in-humans (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Gary Clark, Neville Grace and Ken Drew, published 24 Nov 2008