Volume 23, Number 5—May 2017
Historical Review
Anthrax Cases Associated with Animal-Hair Shaving Brushes
Figure
![Timeline of use of shaving brushes and anthrax, 1915—1989. Case totals for the United States were reported in 1924 and 1930 and included 2 cases for 1927 through mid-1929, but the exact year of occurrence was unspecified (5,6). Data for English-language case descriptions were obtained from a systematic review of systemic anthrax cases published during 1880–2013 (7). Individual cases were reported from the United States, with the following exceptions: 1917, 1 definite case from England; 1918, 2 d](/eid/images/16-1554-F1.jpg)
Figure. Timeline of use of shaving brushes and anthrax, 1915—1989. Case totals for the United States were reported in 1924 and 1930 and included 2 cases for 1927 through mid-1929, but the exact year of occurrence was unspecified (5,6). Data for English-language case descriptions were obtained from a systematic review of systemic anthrax cases published during 1880–2013 (7). Individual cases were reported from the United States, with the following exceptions: 1917, 1 definite case from England; 1918, 2 definite cases from Canada; 1920, 1 definite case from England; 1924, 1 possible case from South Africa; 1935, 1 definite case from Trinidad (8); and 1989, 1 possible case from India (9).
References
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- Smyth HF, Cheney VS. Anthrax as an occupational disease. Am J Public Health Nations Health. 1930;20:155–60. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Katharios-Lanwermeyer S, Holty JE, Person M, Sejvar J, Haberling D, Tubbs H, et al. Identifying meningitis during an anthrax mass casualty incident: systematic review of systemic anthrax since 1880. Clin Infect Dis. 2016;62:1537–45. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Pawan JL. A case of anthrax in Trinidad due to an infected shaving brush. J Trop Med Hyg. 1935;•••:170.
- Khanna N, Gokul BN, Ravikumar R, Chandramuki A, Gourie-Devi M, Aroor SR, et al. Successfully treated primary anthrax meningitis. Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 1989;32:315–7.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Hubbard DS. Anthrax in animal hair. JAMA. 1920;75:1687–90.
- Shaving brushes anthrax carriers. The New York Times. 1919 Aug 18: 1 (col 1).
- World Health Organization. Anthrax in humans and animals, 4th ed. Geneva: The Organization. 2008. p. 18–20.
- Stein CD. The history and distribution of anthrax in livestock in the United States. Vet Med. 1945;40:340–9.
- Animals and Animal Products, 9 C.F.R. Sect. 95.3–95.8 (2016).
- World Organisation for Animal Health. Anthrax. Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Chapter 8.1 Paris: The Organisation; 2016.
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