Animals and people can get anthrax disease. Anthrax is most commonly found in agricultural regions where goats, sheep, cattle or other plant-eating animals have not been vaccinated. When anthrax infects humans, it is usually due to an occupational exposure to infected animals or their products, especially hides, hair and wool. Anthrax is found around the globe. It is more often a risk in countries that do not vaccinate their livestock, or that have substandard or ineffective public-health programs.
People can get gastrointestinal anthrax by eating undercooked contaminated meat.
There is no doubt, the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program is one of the most scrutinized vaccination programs in recent memory and there is a lot of mis-information out there certainly. It is very important that DoD be recognized as forthright, honest, and credible in our execution of this critical Force Health Protection Program. The DoD has developed an assertive program to inform people about the value of anthrax vaccination. There is no question that you influence those that you lead. With the help of informed leaders like yourself that have the opportunity to pass along this very important information to others, the AVIP will continue to be a success.