anthrax..??

yesterday(20th feb,2007),we were taken to a small village near sengi,cos it was reported that there was a case of anthrax there..and this was not a case of bioterrorism but just a case of an outbreak..confused??
ok.. let me start again.
most of us know anthrax as the disease that was used for bioterrorism post 9/11..and it was sent in the form of a powder in the post..
but recently there was a case of anthrax in a village somewhere near sengi..and since anthrax is not a common disease here..we had cause for concern..scared that it could lead to an epidemic,so the psm dept took some of us students to the village so that we can spread awareness about the disease to the villagers so that the disease can be contained..we went house to house and told the bout the disease,its symptoms,how to prevent it and what to do in case someone gets it...
anthrax is a disease affecting animals basically and it can kill them quickly,and it can be transmitted ti humans only if we come in direct contact with the animal,its leather,or if we eat the meat of an animal which died of anthrax,it cannot be spread from person to person by direct contact..
in case u hav been exposed to anthrax..unknowingly..then u can take vaccines(available only in us of a),or for lesser mortals(read developing countries)..a prophylaxis of ciprofloxacin or doxycycline(antibiotics)..for anything from 8 to 60 days..or even longer if u get the disease..
we;ll dats bout anthrax..
im glad i was a part of the awareness campaign..and it was not only helpful and informative but also..made me feel that i have done something important..and believe me folks..it was so much fun too..