What it is: Anthrax is a disease caused by bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in animals, but it can also infect people. Anthrax has the potential to be used as a biological weapon. In late 2001 terrorism related Anthrax cases were found in Connecticut, New York City, New Jersey, Florida and Washington DC.

How it’s spread: Anthrax can be spread by touching it, breathing it in, or eating meat contaminated with Anthrax. It is not contagious. An infected person cannot give it to others.

Symptoms: Symptoms of the disease vary depending on how the disease was contracted, and usually occur within 7 days, but can take up to 60 days to appear.

• Cutaneous (skin form): Most anthrax infections occur when bacteria enter the skin. The infection begins as a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite, but within several days develops into a blister. The blister opens and forms a black area in the center. With prompt treatment, the vast majority of people recover fully.
  
• Inhalation: Initial symptoms may resemble the flu with fever, chills, and muscle aches. After several days, the symptoms progress to severe breathing problems and shock. In the past, death occurred 1-2 days after the onset of symptoms. However, during the recent outbreak of anthrax in the United States, with prompt treatment more than half of the people who developed inhalation anthrax survived.
  
• Intestinal: This form of anthrax occurs from eating contaminated meat. Symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea.

Vaccination: There is a limited amount of anthrax vaccine available in the United States. People are not usually vaccinated against anthrax unless they fall into a high-risk group such as military personnel.

Treatment: Doctors can prescribe antibiotics that work against Anthrax. To be effective, treatment should be initiated early. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal. In Massachusetts, all cases of suspected anthrax are required to be reported immediately by healthcare providers to local health departments. In Boston, suspect cases should be reported by healthcare providers to the Boston Public Health Commission at 617-534-5611.

Exposure and Environmental Cleanup: A person who has been exposed to suspected anthrax spores should thoroughly wash exposed skin with soap and water and remove any contaminated clothing. Immediately notify 9-1-1. Emergency responders will take samples of the suspect material to test it for Anthrax. If the substance is determined to be anthrax, treatment of those exposed should immediately be sought and specialized chemical and other cleaning of the environment should occur.

The information in this section was compiled from the following sources:
http://www.washingtonpost.com
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v281n18/ffull/jst80027.html
http://www.bt.cdc.gov