Anthrax and Bioterrorism 3/25/2010
Anthrax is a rare infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax occurs naturally around the world in wild and domestic hoofed animals, especially cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and antelopes. It can also occur in humans when they are exposed to the bacterium, usually through handling animals or animal hides.
If people have been intentionally exposed, as in a bioterrorist release, contact with skin would be the most likely route of exposure. Breathing in the spores that have been spread through the air could cause inhalation anthrax. Symptoms usually develop between one and seven days after exposure but prolonged periods up to 12 days for cutaneous (skin) anthrax and 60 days for inhalation anthrax are possible, though rare. Anthrax is not spread from person to person by casual contact, sharing office space, or by coughing and sneezing.
Centers for Disease Control (General Information)
www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax
US Postal Service (What is a suspicious piece of mail?)
www.usps.com