Immunization is the safest, most effective way to provide protection against anthrax. The incubation period for inhalation anthrax is 1 to 6 days. The initial symptoms of inhalation anthrax are so nonspecific that diagnosis is very difficult. Therefore, antibiotic treatment must be started at the earliest sign of disease. Antibiotics may protect people without symptoms after a known exposure to aerosolized anthrax spores, but may be ineffective following a large dose, unrecognized exposures, or exposures recognized only after symptoms appear.
Anthrax spores are odorless, colorless, and tasteless.
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