What is Anthrax?
It is an animal disease caused by bacteria. The form of anthrax, although not contagious, is a threat to public safety. In Singapore, the Police, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), MOH and Singapore Post have taken precautionary measures to deal with this threat. The public has been advised to stay calm but also to be vigilant so as to detect any signs of possible threat.
To date, there is no positive case of anthrax reported in Singapore.
Some key precautions taken by authorities are
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Doctors are on the alert of such incidents. |
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Postal workers have been directed to lookout for such incidents. |
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The Police and SCDF are on standby to manage such incidents. |
The following guidelines serve as an advisory on how to deal with a situation when an article suspected of containing anthrax is received:
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Do not handle the letter or package suspected of contamination. Do not shake or empty the contents of the article. |
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If any of the contents (e.g. powder) is spilled from the article, do not try to clean it up. Quickly, cover the area where the powder was spilled with a suitable item (e.g. clothing, paper, trash-can, etc) to prevent it from spreading. Do not remove this cover. |
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Switch off nearby fans or ventilation units in the proximity of the affected area. |
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Leave the room and close the door or block-off access into the area to prevent others from coming close to the affected area. |
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Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent further spreading of the powder. |
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Remove contaminated clothing as soon as possible and put them in a plastic bag or a suitable container that can be sealed and have them available for the Police / SCDF. |
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Shower with soap and water as soon as possible. Do not use bleach or other disinfectants on your skin. |
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List the names and contact numbers of all the persons who were in the room or area, especially those who had direct contact with the powder. Give this list to the Police for follow-up investigations and the issuing of appropriate medical advice/follow-up for individuals who had contact with the powder. |
FAQs
| Q |
What is Anthrax? |
| A |
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax commonly occurs in animals like cattle, sheep, goats, camels, antelope etc, but can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or tissue from infected animals. |
| Q |
Is there a need for me to take medication if I am exposed to suspected anthrax? |
| A |
The medical authorities will contact you for any treatment if it is confirmed that the suspected content is indeed anthrax. Otherwise it is not advisable to consume any medication. |
| Q |
Will the authorities inform me of the results of the analysis? |
| A |
Yes, the relevant authorities will keep you informed of the test results of the analysis of the powder. |
| Q |
What should I do if I come across articles containing powder that is suspected to be anthrax? |
| A |
You should leave the room and close the door or block off access into the area to prevent others from coming in contact with the powder to prevent further contamination. |
| Q |
What should I do if I come into contact with the suspicious powder? |
| A |
Shower with soap and water as soon as possible. Do not use bleach or other disinfectant on your skin. There is no immediate necessity for you to be quarantined unless notified by the authorities. |
| Q |
How is anthrax transmitted? |
| A |
Anthrax infection can occur in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation,
and gastrointestinal. B. anthracis spores can live in the soil for many years, and humans can become infected with anthrax by handling products from infected animals or by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products. Anthrax can also be spread through eating undercooked meat from infected animals. However, it is rare to find infected animals in Singapore. |
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