Anthrax (Noun)
Meaning 1
A highly infectious animal disease (especially cattle and sheep); it can be transmitted to people.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Cattle and sheep that contract anthrax can quickly succumb to the disease and infect other animals.
- Veterinarians who work with infected animals must take precautions to avoid contracting anthrax themselves.
- A vaccine has been developed to prevent anthrax in cattle, reducing the number of infected herds worldwide.
- Due to its potential use as a biological weapon, anthrax has become a subject of great concern among public health officials.
- Sheep that graze in fields contaminated with anthrax spores are at high risk of contracting the disease.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
A disease of humans that is not communicable; caused by infection with Bacillus anthracis followed by septicemia.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The patient was hospitalized with symptoms of anthrax that had progressed rapidly to respiratory failure.
- Anthrax was diagnosed after the blood test revealed the presence of Bacillus anthracis bacteria.
- The nurse took precautions to avoid direct contact with the infected patient who had anthrax to prevent any exposure to the bacteria.
- Following exposure to anthrax, the infection usually begins as a painless blister that may not be noticeable as a serious condition at first.
- The postal worker contracted anthrax from the tainted mail, highlighting the vulnerability of everyday people to bioterrorism.