Glanders disease is a bacterial infection that is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei. This disease is most commonly found in horses, but can sometimes affect mules and donkeys. It is possible that glanders could be contracted by humans as well, but this is extremely rare and there has been no human-to-human transmission of the disease reported to have taken place in the United States. Under natural circumstances glanders can be contracted by other mammals, such as other farm animals like goats and sheep or even domestic household animals like dogs and cats, in addition to members of the equine species (CDC, “Glanders”, 2011). Glanders has a tendency to only surface in certain parts of the world. Cases of glanders are primarily seen throughout Africa, Asia, The Middle East, Central America, and South America. Though cases involving humans are rare, some people, such as veterinarians and horse caretakers who would have more possible contact with infected animals, are at a much greater risk of contracting the disease than others (CDC, "Glanders", 2011). Glanders is a particularly ruthless and brutal disease. Even with traditional antibiotics, glanders has a fatality rate of between 30 and 50% (PBS, NOVA, "Glanders", 2001). Severe cases of the infection can be fatal within a few weeks or possibly a…show more content… Furthermore, the symptoms that a person experiences are based on the type of infection. The general symptoms of glanders experienced by victims include chills, fever, muscle aches and tightness, chest pain, headache, tearing of the eyes, sensitivity to light and sound, and diarrhea. There are four main types of glanders infection and each type focuses on a different part of the body(New York Department of Health, "Glanders", 2011). The types of infection include localized (skin) infection, pulmonary (lungs) infection, bloodstream infection, and chronic (long-term)
