Anthrax FAQ. (Science).

Anthrax used to be a livestock disease. Now it has become a biological weapon. Here's thy rundown, according to scientists and government experts.

What is anthrax?

A potentially fatal bacterial disease that is transmitted in the form of tiny spores. In October, anthrax was mailed to the offices of U.S. Senator Tom Daschle and NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw.

How can people become infected?

Cutaneous anthrax, which infects through a scratch on the skin, accounts for 95 percent of usual cases. Two other forms are inhalation and gastrointestinal anthrax.

Is anthrax contagious?

No, it does not spread from person to person.

What are symptoms and treatment?

* Cutaneous anthrax results in a black scab as well as headache, fever, and nausea. It is the least severe form; death is rare with proper treatment. Penicillin and Cipro are the antibiotics effective against it.

* Gastrointestinal anthrax can lead to vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea; without antibiotics, the death rate is 25 to 60 percent.

*Inhalation anthrax causes severe breathing difficulty, shock, and coma; the deadliest form, it's often untreatable once symptoms occur.

Is there a vaccine?

Yes, but it takes repeated injections over 18 months to become effective.