Anthrax is becoming much more of a threat as a biological weapon. Anthrax is one of the weapons that Iraq possessed during the Gulf War, and agreed to get rid of after the cease-fire was signed. Within the past few months, Iraq has not allowed weapon inspectors in some facilities, so some people believe they are still hiding weapons like anthrax. Also, the Department of Defense has realized the threat that anthrax is to troops. Because of that they have begun a systematic vaccination of all U.S. military personnel.
Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions where it occurs in animals.
These include South and Central American, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Anthrax rarely occurs in the United States, but there have been reports in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and South Dakota. When anthrax effects humans it is usually due to an occupational exposure to infected animals, or their products. Workers who are exposed to dead animals and animals products from other countries where anthrax is more common may also be infected. Anthrax spores can live in the soil for many years and humans can become infected by handling animal products from infected animals, or by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products.