Not medical advice. This site is general information only. In an emergency call your local emergency number. For advice about your own health, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified health professional.

Anthrax

InfectiousBacillus anthracisAncient (Egyptian records)Contact, spore inhalation
TypeInfectious
CauseBacillus anthracis
First KnownAncient (Egyptian records)
TransmissionContact, spore inhalation

About Anthrax

The disease Robert Koch used in 1876 to show that a specific germ causes a specific disease. Pasteur created a live vaccine in 1881. The 2001 US letter attacks killed 5 people and shaped modern biodefense. Thawing Siberian permafrost still releases spores from buried animal carcasses.

Related Diseases

Smallpox

InfectiousDroplet, contact

Eradicated in 1980, the only human disease ever eliminated. Killed an estimated 300-500 million peop...

Bubonic Plague

InfectiousFlea bite, droplet

The Black Death killed 75-200 million people in the 14th century, 30-60% of Europe. Plague doctors w...

Spanish Flu

InfectiousDroplet

Infected 500 million people, one-third of the world population. Estimates of deaths range from about...

COVID-19

InfectiousDroplet, airborne

First identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Declared a pandemic March 11, 2020. Over 770 mill...