Anthrax
Anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The serious forms of human anthrax are inhalation anthrax, cutaneous anthrax and intestinal anthrax.

Symptoms of anthrax usually appear within seven days of exposure and vary depending on how the disease is contracted.

It is extremely unlikely that a person could contract anthrax from someone who has the disease, so it is not necessary to immunize or treat contacts of people with anthrax unless they too may have been exposed.

If antibiotics are taken at an early stage in the course of the disease, they can effectively treat anthrax. There is also a vaccine to protect against anthrax infection, but is not available to the general public.

More on anthrax and the 2001 anthrax attacks