Diseases A-Z

Anthrax

• More info/links
• Reporting

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in warm-blooded animals, but can also infect humans.

Anthrax vaccine is not recommended for children under the age of 18. At this point it is not available commercially except to the military because of the risk military personnel may encounter in their work.

More info/links

• More facts and background info on anthrax and other possible biological agents
• Guidelines and links for health-care providers and first responders
• MMWR's Recommendations for use of anthrax vaccine in the United States (PDF) (224K)
• CDC Vaccine Information Statements (english only)
• CDC Vaccine Information Statements in other languages from the Immunization Action Coalition

Disease reporting

Health care providers and clinical laboratories are required by law to report cases and suspect cases of anthrax to local health departments immediately, day or night. On weekends, evenings and holidays, call 503/731-4030 to reach the state health department doctor on call.

Disease reporting form for health-care practitioners (PDF 42K)
Go to our disease reporting page for information on how to report and for telephone numbers of local health departments.

For county health departments:
Case report form (6/03) (PDF 64K)
For reportable diseases lacking Oregon-specific investigative guidelines or case report forms, please contact the epidemiologist on call for assistance.

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