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Anthrax
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What is anthrax? Anthrax is a type of bacteria that lives in the soil and forms spores. The spores can be inactive for a long time before they develop into new bacteria. The bacteria and spores can infect animals and people. How does anthrax infection occur? The bacteria are common but infections of animals or people are very rare in the US. You can become infected with anthrax by handling animals or materials contaminated with the bacteria, breathing the bacteria or spores into your lungs, or eating undercooked meat from infected animals. Anthrax is not spread from person to person. This means it is not contagious. The three types of anthrax infections are cutaneous, or skin, anthrax, inhalation anthrax, and intestinal anthrax. Cutaneous anthrax infections happen when the bacteria enter a cut or scrape in the skin. Skin infection begins as a raised itchy bump that looks like an insect bite. In 1 to 2 days the bump becomes a blister and then a painless open sore. The sore is usually an inch or smaller in diameter, with a black area in the center. Lymph glands near the sore may swell. Treatment of skin anthrax with antibiotics usually cures the infection. The first symptoms of inhalation anthrax are like the symptoms of a cold or flu and include fever, tiredness, and cough. Symptoms appear 1 to 6 days after the anthrax bacteria or spores are breathed into the lungs. The symptoms may quickly get worse, developing into severe breathing problems and shock. Inhalation anthrax is often fatal if it is not treated until after symptoms appear. You can get the intestinal form of anthrax by eating contaminated meat. The first symptoms are nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fever. The symptoms then worsen to abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. Intestinal anthrax causes death in 25% to 60% of cases, even with treatment. Being exposed to anthrax does not mean that you will be infected and get sick. If you have been exposed, you may be tested and start treatment with antibiotics without waiting for test results. Anthrax infections can be fatal if not treated early with antibiotics. How can it be prevented? A vaccine, which can help prevent infection with anthrax, has been developed but it is not available for everyone. The vaccine may be given to people at high risk of being exposed. To help avoid becoming infected with anthrax when there is a threat of bioterrorism, do not handle suspicious letters, packages, or other objects. Avoid eating meat that has not been properly cooked. When should I call my health care provider? If you live or work in a setting where anthrax has been locally reported, call your healthcare provider or go to the emergency room if you have fever, chest pain, and muscle aches. Also call your provider if you have a suspicious skin sore, suspicious cold or flulike symptoms, or unexplained nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.  Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a
replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIA File SFY4901F.HTM Release 9.0/2006. Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subdiaries. All Rights Reserved.
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