Risk factors

To contract anthrax, you must come in direct contact with anthrax spores. This is more likely if you:

• Are in the military and deployed to an area with a high risk of exposure to anthrax
• Work with anthrax in a laboratory setting
• Handle animal skins, furs or wool from areas with a high incidence of anthrax
• Work in veterinary medicine, especially if you deal with livestock
• Handle or dress game animals — while anthrax is rare in the United States, there are occasional outbreaks in domestic cattle and wild animals such as deer
• Inject illegal drugs, such as heroin