Anthrax

Anthrax is caused by *Bacillus anthracis*, described in the sources as a spore-forming, gram-positive bacterium and a deadly pathogen ^[2][1]. Under unfavourable conditions, it forms highly resistant spores that can survive for long periods, supporting persistence in the environment ^[2]. The disease is toxin-mediated, and anthrax toxin is identified as a major virulence factor ^[2][1].

The provided sources indicate that anthrax may present as cutaneous, injection, inhalation, or gastrointestinal disease, depending on the route by which spores enter the host ^[2]. The toxin acts after germination within the host cell and can kill host cells, while also altering host cell signalling ^[2][1]. Early infection may involve interference with innate immune responses, and later disease may progress to vascular collapse ^[1]. Source-backed detail on symptom sequence, duration, and complication frequencies is not yet available ^[2][1].

The sources identify contaminated soil and animal products as the main exposure media from which spores are acquired ^[2]. No location-specific incidence, seasonality, outbreak history, or population-level burden is provided in the supplied material ^[3][4][5]. The material does note that anthrax vaccines are included in the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile, indicating continuing public-health preparedness relevance ^[6].

Transmission occurs when *Bacillus anthracis* spores from contaminated soil or animal products enter the host ^[2]. The sources specify entry through the skin, lungs, or oral route, corresponding to cutaneous, inhalation, and gastrointestinal anthrax; injection anthrax is also mentioned as a clinical form in the review ^[2]. Source-backed detail on person-to-person spread or persistence of infectivity beyond spores is not yet available ^[2][1].

The provided sources do not identify specific demographic or occupational risk groups in a way that supports a more detailed profile ^[2][1]. They do show that risk is linked to exposure to contaminated soil or animal products and to routes of entry through skin, lungs, or the oral route ^[2]. For surveillance purposes, those exposure histories are the clearest evidence-backed risk markers available in the current material ^[2].

The supplied sources state that there are two FDA-approved vaccines, BioThrax and CYFENDUS TM, for prevention of anthrax disease ^[2]. A separate source notes that anthrax vaccines are included in the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile ^[6]. Beyond vaccination, the source material does not provide specific exposure-control, animal-health, or environmental prevention measures, so those details are not yet available from the evidence provided ^[2][6].

In surveillance, anthrax should be read as a zoonotic, spore-associated bacterial infection linked to contaminated soil and animal products, with clinical forms varying by route of exposure ^[2]. The presence of approved vaccines and stockpiled vaccine product indicates that the disease remains a preparedness concern even though the supplied sources do not quantify current incidence ^[2][6]. Source-backed detail on notifiable-case definitions, routine reporting thresholds, or outbreak triggers is not yet available ^[3][4][5].

1. 1 Moayeri M et al. Anthrax Pathogenesis. Annu Rev Microbiol. 2015. PMID: 26195305. doi: 10.1146/annurev-micro-091014-104523. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26195305/
2. 2 Sangwan N et al. Anthrax: Transmission, Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment. Toxins (Basel). 2025 Jan 24. PMID: 39998073. doi: 10.3390/toxins17020056. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39998073/
3. 3 Anthrax: A Bacillus Anthracis Infection. Bacterial Diseases. 2020. doi: 10.2174/9789811473760120010003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/9789811473760120010003
4. 4 Anthrax. Human Diseases from Wildlife. 2014. doi: 10.1201/b17428-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/b17428-10
5. 5 Anthrax. Control of Communicable Diseases. 2019. doi: 10.2105/ccdml.2868.019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/ccdml.2868.019
6. 6 Hammershaimb EAD et al. Vaccine Development. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2024 Jun. PMID: 38754940. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2024.01.018. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38754940/

ICD-10

A22

ICD-11

1B91

Total cases

6K

Total deaths

43

Peak month

2023-08

Coverage

6 reporting countries · 2000-01-01 → 2026-06-20