The disease Anthrax is caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis . It is a disease normally found in livestock, such as sheep, cattle and horses. The spores of Bacillus anthracis can be produced and stored in a dry form and remain viable for decades in storage or after release.
Anthrax spores are one of the number one choice of weapons for biological warfare.
As many as 12 countries, including Iraq, have the capability of using weapons containing the Anthrax spores. Within 6 days after inhaling Bacillus anthracis spores, the host would experience the onset of flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, fever, mild discomfort in the chest, and a dry cough. The symptoms would improve for a few hours. This would be followed by a sudden onset of difficulty in breathing, profuse sweating, cyanosis, shock and death within 24-36 hours. An Anthrax vaccine was approved by the FDA in 1970 and is currently being produced under contract by the Department of Defense.