The intestinal disease form of anthrax may follow the consumption of contaminated food and is characterized by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract. Initial signs of nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fever are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. Therefore, there is no need to immunize or treat contacts of persons ill with anthrax, such as household contacts, friends or coworkers, unless they also were exposed to the same source of infection. In persons exposed to anthrax, infection can be prevented with antibiotic treatment. Early antibiotic treatment of anthrax is essential - delay lessens chances for survival.
Anthrax usually is susceptible to penicillin, doxycycline, and fluoroquinolones.
An anthrax vaccine also can prevent infection. Vaccination against anthrax is not recommended for the general public to prevent disease and is not available. No other workers are known to have illness consistent with anthrax. One of many samples collected from the workplace environment contains B. anthracis. Final results on the other environmental samples will not be available for several days.