By Alexandra Thompson Senior Health Reporter For Mailonline
Published: 18:08 BST, 16 May 2019 | Updated: 18:09 BST, 16 May 2019
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Billions of people live in areas where they are at risk of being exposed to anthrax, research suggests.
The bacteria behind the killer infection lurks in the soil of every inhabited continent, with its spores getting taken up by grazing livestock.
Scientists used existing data to calculate that up to 1.83billion all over the world could be exposed to the bacteria behind the infection.
Handling or eating contaminated meat can spread the infection to humans, which may trigger inflammation of the brain and life-threatening bleeding.
Map shows the distribution of the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, which is behind the disease anthrax. Areas with higher levels of the pathogen in their soil are more at risk of an outbreak
The research was carried out by The National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center in Annapolis, Maryland.
B. anthracis' worldwide distribution is poorly understood. Scores of countries have inadequate surveillance systems, even in endemic regions.
To uncover how prevalent the bacteria is, the researchers analysed global data of the infection in humans, livestock and other animals across 70 countries.
They looked at records collected by scientists, national surveillance data and online statistics. This was then extrapolated to predict how many people may be at risk.
Results revealed an estimated 1.83billion people live in regions that are at risk of an anthrax outbreak. The 'vast majority' reside in rural areas in Africa, Europe and Asia.
Bacillus anthracis, the bacteria behind anthrax, is considered one of the biggest threats in bioterroism.
The spores can be inhaled, ingested or spread via skin-to-skin contact.
They are hardy, readily available in the soil of every inhabited continent and can be produced in a laboratory.
The spores are also microscopic, which enables them to be hidden in powders, sprays, food and water without being seen, smelt or tasted.
Anthrax has been used as a weapon around the world for nearly a century.
In the week after 9/11, spores were hidden in a powder in letters.
Twenty-two people, including 12 mail handlers, got anthrax as a result and five died. The case was never fully solved.
B. anthracis is considered a Tier one agent due to it having 'the greatest risk of deliberate
