Anthrax

An acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis which occurs naturally in soil and is commonly acquired through contact with animal hair, hides or waste from infected sheep, cattle, goats, horses, deer or other herbivores. Anthrax can also be "weaponized" for use in biological warfare. The disease, which is generally fatal if untreated, has three forms: inhalation anthrax which attacks the lungs when spores are inhaled, gastrointestinal anthrax which attacks the intestinal tract when spores are ingested and cutaneous anthrax which attacks the skin when contaminated materials are handled by the individual. Inhalation anthrax is the most serious form of the disease.