After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. Inhalation anthrax is usually fatal. Initial signs include nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and fever, followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood and severe diarrhea. Intestinal anthrax results in death in 25 percent to 60 percent of cases. Anthrax is diagnosed by isolating B. anthracis from the blood, skin lesions or respiratory secretions or by measuring specific antibodies in the blood of persons with suspected cases.
Doctors can prescribe effective antibiotics.
To be effective, treatment should be initiated early. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal. Pregnant women should be vaccinated only if absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, the answers to those questions may be less than reassuring. The attacks on Sept. 11 mobilized bioterrorism preparation across the country, with Sens.