Anthrax is caused by bacteria, and can be transmitted by skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion. The symptoms are similar to the flu, and include high fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhoea with hemorrhaging. In cases in which anthrax leads to death, the causes are usually shock from loss of blood, intestinal perforation, and septicemia.
目前被密切關注的炭疽熱是由炭疽桿菌引起，可以經由皮膚接觸、呼吸道吸入及飲食而感染，出現的症狀很像感冒，如高燒、噁心、嘔吐、腹痛及血水樣腹瀉等，死因通常是失血性休克、腸道穿孔及敗血症。