A serious bacterial infection caused by Bacillus anthracis that occurs primarily in animals, but can occasionally spread to humans. It commonly affects hoofed animals such as sheep and goats. Infection in humans often involves the skin (cutaneous anthrax), the lungs (inhalation anthrax), or the gastrointestinal tract. It gets its name from the Greek word meaning "coal" because of the characteristic coal-black sore that is the hallmark of the most common form of the disease. Anthrax is not contagious and can be treated with antibiotics.
