1/30/2026 Public Health Education Topic:  Anthrax

Per CDC:

Key points

• Anthrax can cause severe illness in both people and animals.

• The bacteria that cause anthrax occurs naturally in soil worldwide.

• People usually get anthrax from infected animals or contaminated animal products.

• Call a healthcare provider immediately if you think you have been exposed to anthrax.

Symptoms

The symptoms of anthrax depend on the type of infection. Symptoms show up anywhere from one day to more than two months after you're exposed to the bacteria that cause anthrax. If you don't get proper treatment, all types of anthrax have the potential to spread through your body and cause severe illness and death.

Cutaneous anthrax

Symptoms include:

• Group of itchy, small blisters or bumps

• Large amount of swelling around the sore

• Painless sore commonly on the face, neck, arms, or hand that has a black center

  • Sore appears after the bumps have gone down

• For injection anthrax, infected sores (abscesses) deep under the skin or muscle at the injection site.

  
  

Inhalation anthrax

Symptoms include:

• Fever and chills

• Heavy sweats

• Chest pain, cough, or shortness of breath

• Confusion or dizziness

• Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains

• Headache or body aches

• Extreme tiredness

  
  

Gastrointestinal anthrax

Symptoms include:

• Fever and chills

• Swelling of neck or neck glands

• Sore throat, hoarseness, and pain when swallowing

• Nausea and vomiting, especially bloody vomiting

• Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea

• Headache

• Red face and red eyes

• Stomach pain and swelling

• Fainting

  
  

To learn more please visit: About Anthrax | Anthrax | CDC