Anthrax vaccine: a review

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease, primarily of ruminants, that is caused by Bacillus anthracis. The three most common forms of anthrax are cutaneous, inhalational, and gastrointestinal. Anthrax can be a deadly disease if treatment does not begin early in the course of infection. An effective vaccine has been available in the United States since 1970, although it was not used widely until 1998. Research is underway to change the current US-licensed vaccine's route of administration to intramuscular and to reduce the number of doses in the basic series.