What I need to know about anthrax today

The US Department of Defense has been concerned about the use of anthrax as a biological weapon by an enemy on US troops for a number of years. This is the reason why the military has embarked on a vaccination program for its forces deployed to regions of the world, which are considered high-risk areas. These areas have been in the Southwest Asia-Persian Gulf region as well as the Korean Peninsula. Many intelligence personnel have also been concerned about the possibility of biological agents being used by terrorists in the Continental United States. The recent anthrax incidents in Florida and elsewhere in the United States have significantly heightened concerns along these lines, especially following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11th. The death of a Florida businessman, identification of infection in one of his co-workers, evidence of exposure and in some instances, cutaneous infection in some others, as well as evidence of contamination in their buildings, raised further concerns of the possibility of terrorist activity using biological warfare in this country. It is somewhat ironic that a disease that you probably haven't heard about since medical school has become the focus of national attention. Our goal in this communication is to refresh your understanding of what anthrax is and what you need to know about it today since anthrax is counted among the weapons of mass destruction. As a member of the medical profession, you will need to know what to look for in patients and how to treat them if they are contaminated with this biological agent. You will also have to serve as the "front line" of the public health system and alert the police and public health agencies.