Anthrax is a virus

Cutaneous anthrax causes blisters or bumps on the skin, swelling around the sore, and a painless skin sore ulcer with a black center. The sore is usually on the face, neck, arms, or hands. From eating infected meat. Ingestion anthrax can cause fever and chills. It can affect the upper part of the gastrointestinal GI tract, the lower part of the GI tract, or both.

When it affects the upper part, there is swelling of the neck or neck glands, sore throat, and painful swallowing or difficulty breathing.

When it affects the lower GI tract, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain and swelling, and diarrhea may be present. The patient may also look flushed red , have red eyes, or faint. From inhaling spores of the bacteria that causes anthrax. Inhalation anthrax can cause shortness of breath, cough, chest discomfort, confusion, nausea or vomiting, stomachache, sweats, and dizziness.

From injecting heroin. Injection anthrax can result in swelling at the injection site, nausea and vomiting, and sweats. Anthrax vaccine. Anthrax vaccine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration FDA and recommended for adults 18 through 65 years of age who are at risk of exposure to anthrax bacteria , including: Certain laboratory workers who work with Bacillus anthracis People who handle potentially infected animals or their carcasses Some military personnel determined by the Department of Defense Some emergency and other responders whose response activities might lead to exposure These people should get 3 doses of anthrax vaccine, followed by booster doses for ongoing protection.

Talk with your health care provider. Tell your vaccine provider if the person getting the vaccine: Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of anthrax vaccine , or has any severe, life-threatening allergies. Is pregnant or thinks she might be pregnant. Has a weakened immune system. Has a history of anthrax disease. Your health care provider can give you more information. Risks of a vaccine reaction.

After getting a shot of anthrax vaccine, you may have: Tenderness, redness, itching, or a lump or bruise where the shot is given Muscle aches or short-term trouble moving your arm Headaches or fatigue People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination. What if there is a serious problem? A skin-related cutaneous anthrax infection enters your body through your skin, usually through a cut or other sore.

It's by far the most common route of the disease. It's also the mildest. With appropriate treatment, cutaneous anthrax is seldom fatal. Signs and symptoms include:.

A gastrointestinal anthrax infection results from eating undercooked meat from an infected animal. It can affect your gastrointestinal tract from your throat to your colon. This illustration shows how the spores that cause inhalation anthrax — the most deadly form of anthrax infection — enter and affect the body. Inhalation anthrax develops when you breathe in anthrax spores. It's the most deadly form of the disease, and is often fatal, even with treatment.

Initial signs and symptoms include:. This recently identified route of anthrax infection has so far been reported only in Europe. It's contracted through injecting illegal drugs. Many common illnesses start with symptoms that resemble the flu.

The chances that your sore throat and aching muscles are due to anthrax are extremely small. If you think you may have been exposed — for example, if you work in an environment where anthrax is likely to occur — see a doctor immediately for evaluation and care. If you develop signs and symptoms of the disorder after exposure to animals or animal products in parts of the world where anthrax is common, seek prompt medical attention.

Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Anthrax spores are formed by anthrax bacteria that occur naturally in soil in most parts of the world. The spores can remain dormant for years until they find their way into a host. Common hosts for anthrax include wild or domestic livestock, such as sheep, cattle, horses and goats.

Most human cases of anthrax occur as a result of exposure to infected animals or their meat or hides. In the United States, a few people have developed anthrax while making traditional African drums from the skins of infected animals. One of the few known instances of nonanimal transmission was a bioterrorism attack that occurred in the United States in Twenty-two people developed anthrax after being exposed to spores sent through the mail, and five of those infected died.

More recently, in two separate outbreaks, heroin users in Europe contracted anthrax through injecting illegal drugs. A total of 40 people died. Heroin sold in Europe likely comes from areas where naturally occurring anthrax is more common. It is very uncommon for people in the United States to get infected with anthrax. Domestic and wild animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, antelope, and deer can become infected when they breathe in or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water.

In areas where domestic animals have had anthrax in the past, routine vaccination can help prevent outbreaks. Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions of Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, central and southwestern Asia, southern and eastern Europe, and the Caribbean. Anthrax is rare in the United States, but sporadic outbreaks do occur in wild and domestic grazing animals such as cattle or deer.

Anthrax is more common in developing countries and countries that do not have veterinary public health programs that routinely vaccinate animals against anthrax. In the United States, yearly vaccination of livestock is recommended in areas where animals have had anthrax in the past.

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