Can anthrax be spread from person-to-person?
Direct person-to-person spread of anthrax most likely does not occur. How is anthrax diagnosed? Anthrax is diagnosed by isolating B. anthracis from the blood, skin lesions, or respiratory secretions or by measuring specific antibodies in the blood of suspected cases. What about nasal swabs or blood tests? There are no quick screening tests for anthrax disease. Nasal swabs and blood serum tests will not tell you if you have been exposed to anthrax. Only people with anthrax-like symptoms should be further tested. What is the treatment for anthrax? Doctors can prescribe effective antibiotics. Usually, penicillin is preferred, but erythromycin, tetracycline, or chloramphenicol can also be used. To be effective, treatment should be initiated early. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal. Should people take preventive antibiotics? No. There have been no illnesses or deaths in Oregon from anthrax or other diseases that could be caused by bioterrorism. Public health officials do not recom