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a reader. This document was produced in cooperation with the Emergency
Management Division of the Washington State Military Department.
Glanders
What is glanders?
Glanders is an infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium
Burkholderia mallei. Glanders primarily affects horses, donkeys and mules
although other animals such as goats, dogs, and cats can be infected.
Human infection is very rare and requires close prolonged contact with
infected animals. The infection may be rapidly fatal. The organism can be
produced in a form that will allow it to be spread through the air, making
it a potential agent for biological terrorism. How
do people get glanders?
Humans become infected with glanders through direct contact with infected
animals. The bacteria enter the body through the mucous membranes of the
eyes, nose and mouth; by being breathed in, or through cuts in the skin.
Laboratory workers have been accidentally infected with glanders. Other
human cases of glanders have involved veterinarians and livestock handlers
outside of the United States. Only one case of glanders has occurred in
the United States since the 1940s.
Glanders can be transmitted from one person to another through an infected
person’s bodily fluids.
How is glanders diagnosed?
The disease is diagnosed in the laboratory by isolating Burkholderia
mallei from blood, sputum, urine, or cuts in the skin.
What is the treatment?
Because human cases of glanders are rare, there is little information
about treatment. Specific antibiotics may be used effectively to treat
glanders
What are the symptoms of glanders?
Symptoms of glanders include fever, muscle aches, chest pain, muscle
tightness, weakness and headache. Additional symptoms of glanders depend
largely upon the way the infection was acquired:
Skin infections: If the bacteria enters through a cut or
scratch in the skin, a localized infection with ulceration will develop at
the infected site within 1 to 5 days. Swollen lymph nodes are also common.
Infections of the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract: These
infections will cause the affected sites to produce increased amounts of
mucous. If the infection is in the nose, sores may form with a bloody
discharge.
Pulmonary infections: Infection of the lungs can lead to
pneumonia, pulmonary abscesses, and the collection of fluid inside the
chest cavity around the lung. Symptoms include chest pain, cough and
shortness o breath.
Bloodstream infections: Any infection can progress to an
infection of the bloodstream. Bloodstream infections are usually fatal
within 7 to 10 days. Symptoms include very high fever, rapid heart rate,
and often a rash.
Chronic infections: Symptoms of chronic infection make
themselves know more slowly than other types of infection. The usual
symptoms are abscesses in the skin and muscles of the arms and legs, or
more rarely, in the spleen or liver.
How common is glanders?
The United States has not seen any naturally occurring cases since the
1940s. However, it is still commonly seen among domestic animals in
Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America
How can the spread of glanders be prevented?
There is no vaccine available for glanders. In countries where glanders is
found in animals, the disease can be prevented in humans by identifying
and eliminating the infection in the animal population. Within the health
care setting, transmission can be prevented by using common blood and body
fluid precautions.
What should I do if I suspect someone in my family has glanders?
Contact your primary health care provider or call your local health
department. Where can I get more information?
For more information about the disease in humans, call Communicable
Disease Epidemiology, (206) 418-5500 or toll-free 877-539-4344. For
information about the disease in animals, call Kathy Connell at the
Washington State Department of Agriculture (360) 902-1878.
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