Fact sheets
The Department of Health, Western Australia, does not produce fact sheets on this topic.
Public Health action
Notifiable disease data and reports
Additional sources of information
Case definition
If there is a high index of suspicion (see clinical picture below) contact the Regional PHU or CDCD as early as possible prior to laboratory confirmation.
Confirmed cases should be notified.
A confirmed case requires either:
1. Laboratory definitive evidence
OR
2. Laboratory suggestive evidence AND clinical evidence
Laboratory definitive evidence
Isolation of Bacillus anthracis -like organisms or spores confirmed by a reference laboratory.
Laboratory suggestive evidence
1. Detection of Bacillus anthracis by microscopic examination of stained smears
OR
2. Detection of Bacillus anthracis by nucleic acid testing
Clinical evidence
1. Cutaneous: skin lesion evolving over 1-6 days from a papular through a vesicular stage, to a depressed black eschar invariably accompanied by oedema that may be mild to extensive
OR
2. Gastrointestinal: abdominal distress characterised by nausea, vomiting, anorexia and followed by fever
OR
3. Rapid onset of hypoxia, dyspnoea and high temperature, with radiological evidence of mediastinal widening
OR
4. Meningeal: acute onset of high fever, convulsions, loss of consciousness and meningeal signs and symptoms
