UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bill Lorance form Sequin, Texas asks - "What's the difference between the skin form and inhaled form of anthrax?"</s>SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, the skin form and the inhaled form of the anthrax are caused by the same bacteria. The difference is the way that bacteria infects the body. If the anthrax bacteria, known as Bacillus anthraces actually gets into the lungs, an inhaled anthrax infection might occur. It takes typically eight to 10,000 spores. If that bacteria comes in contact with broken skin, a cutaneous infection can occur. It is possible to have both infections simultaneously but very rare. There's also a third form of infection known as gastrointestinal anthrax. This is from actually swallowing the anthrax bacteria and is the most rare of all three types.
Difference Between Inhaled and Skin Anthrax