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Summary
Anthrax is a disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a germ that lives in soil. Many people know about it from the 2001 bioterror attacks. In the attacks, someone purposely spread anthrax through the U.S. mail. This killed five people and made 22 sick.
Anthrax is rare. It affects animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats more often than people. People can get anthrax from contact with infected animals, wool, meat, or hides. It can cause three forms of disease in people. They are:
- Cutaneous, which affects the skin. People with cuts or open sores can get it if they touch the bacteria.
- Inhalation, which affects the lungs. You can get this if you breathe in spores of the bacteria.
- Gastrointestinal, which affects the digestive system. You can get it by eating infected meat.
Antibiotics often cure anthrax if it is diagnosed early. But many people don't know they have anthrax until it is too late to treat. A vaccine to prevent anthrax is available for people in the military and others at high risk.
- About Anthrax (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
-
Anthrax
(Merck & Co., Inc.)
Prevention and Risk Factors
- About Anthrax Prevention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Anthrax Vaccine: What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- Preventing Exposure to Anthrax at Certain Jobs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Anthrax
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Patient Handouts
- Anthrax (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Anthrax blood test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Anthrax Vaccine: What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.