Bacillus anthracis spores can live in the soil for many years and humans can become infected with anthrax by handling animal products from infected animals or by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products. Anthrax can also be spread by eating undercooked meat from infected animals. It is rare to find infected animals in the United States. Symptoms of disease vary depending on how the disease was contracted, but symptoms usually occur within seven days. Lymph glands in the adjacent area may swell.
Deaths are rare with appropriate antimicrobial therapy.
After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. Inhalation anthrax usually results in death in 1-2 days after onset of the acute symptoms. Initial signs of nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. Symptoms of anthrax usually appear within 7 days after coming into contact with Bacillus anthracis bacteria. Anthrax is diagnosed by isolating Bacillus anthracis from the blood, skin lesions, or respiratory secretions or by measuring specific antibodies to Bacillus anthracis in the blood of suspected cases.