Anthrax is a disease that commonly occurs in warm-blooded animals, such as goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, but can also occur in humans. It is most common in regions where these animals are raised, especially in South and Central America, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, parts of Europe, and rarely in the United States. Humans are not very susceptible to infection, and person to person transmission of anthrax is very rare. Lymph nodes in the area of the rash may swell. This type of exposure is very treatable, but if not treated, one in five people infected through the skin die.
Shock follows, and death usually occurs in one to two days after cold-like symptoms begin.
If infected by eating contaminated meat, the symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and fever. Anthrax can be treated with certain antibiotics, but treatment must begin very soon after exposure. Inhalation anthrax should be treated prior to symptom onset to be most effective. If not treated, anthrax can cause death. Persons with possible exposure will be evaluated by public health officials to determine if antibiotic treatment should be started.