A bacterial infection most prevalent in herbavores such as cattle, sheep, horses and goats. Humans
are relatively resistant to infection with estimates ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 cases per year, worldwide. It can infect the skin, lungs, intestine and the brain. The skin infection begins with a small red macule, progressing within one week to an ulcer with a blackened necrotic crust surrounded by a zone of brawny edema. Inhalation anthrax presents as a respiratory infection, which develops suddenly, subsides after a few days then returns with more severe symptoms of cough, shortness of breath and rapid deterioration. It is characterized by bleeding within the chest wall. Untreated inhalation anthrax carries  100% mortality. Early treatment with IV antibiotics ( Cipro, PCN G, Streptomycin ) reduce mortality to the 60% range. Intestinal anthrax presents with fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, ascites(fluid within the abdomen), and bloody diarrhea. In the Oropharyngeal type, there is sore throat, fever, difficulty swallowing, and painful swollen lymph nodes. Anthrax Menningitis is rare. Treatment is with intravenous Pennicillin G, Doxycycline or Ciprofloxacin either alone or in combination with streptomycin. Current vaccines have been shown to be quite effective against inhalation anthrax in Rhesus monkeys, and have considerable protection against cutaneous anthrax in humans. Existing supplies are used to vaccinate only military personnel. Mortality from treated skin anthrax is very low; from treated intestinal anthrax, 30%. Prevention in suspected exposure can be achieved by a six week course of Doxycycline or Ciprofloxacin.