How common is anthrax and how is it spread?
Anthrax occurs naturally around the world in wild and domestic animals, especially hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, camels and antelopes. The spores of B. anthracis can remain viable in the soil for many years, and can be a potential source of infection for livestock through ingestion. It is rare to find infected animals in the United States. Humans can also get anthrax, and usually it is due to an occupational exposure to infected animals or their products (cutaneous anthrax). Infection can also result from inhaling anthrax spores that have been aerosolized (inhalational anthrax), or by eating undercooked meat from infected animals (gastrointestinal anthrax).
