Though not known to be contagious from one person to another, Anthrax can be spread from animals by eating undercooked meat from infected animals or from breathing spores from infected animal products, such as wool. Perhaps more terrifying is the thought of inhaling the spores, as happened in the United States in 2001 when Anthrax was used as a deadly weapon sent through the mail in powder form, infecting 22 people; half of those cases ended in death, leaving thousands more fearing for their lives.
Anthrax, made popular with the rise of the threat of bioterrorism, is a disease caused from a bacterium that forms spores. A spore is a dormant cell that can come to life under the right conditions, causing disease and sometimes death to the infected host.
Universal Detection Technology (OTCBB: UDTT) has worked quickly to develop the BSM-2000, a bacterial spore detection system that will sound an alarm before humans in the vicinity have time to inhale enough of the spores to be considered lethal. The device was created to monitor constant and unattended areas such as public facilities or commercial buildings.
The device continuously samples the air, using heat to “pop” the spores, releasing the dipicolinic acid which is unique to this kind of spore. The acid instantaneously reacts with a chemical sensor in the solution, triggering a green luminescence when viewed under ultraviolet light. If an increase in spore concentration is detected, the alarm goes off, allowing internal security and emergency services time to react.
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