# Building immunity to Anthrax?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-immunity-to-anthrax/90536
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 30, 2001, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-immunity-to-anthrax/90536 "2001-10-30T15:40:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2001, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-immunity-to-anthrax/90536/1 "2001-10-30T15:40:42Z")

</div>

I’m wondering if these people who hace contracted the various forms of Anthrax will develop a natural immunity to it once it is treated and cured.

I know that the immunization is only good for a year or so, but would surviving a case of Anthrax give one this same window of immunity?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, IANAD.

Thanks,  
-j

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2001, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-immunity-to-anthrax/90536/2 "2001-10-30T16:48:53Z")

</div>

I heard the director of the Baltimore City Health Department on the radio yesterday. He said that people who develop anthrax and survive will be immune to getting it again. (This is based on when there was an accidental release of anthrax in Russia about 20 years ago.)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2001, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-immunity-to-anthrax/90536/3 "2001-10-30T17:39:49Z")

</div>

Is there any more specific info on this? For example, if someone contracts cutaneous anthrax, is treated and survives- will that person be immune to _all_ forms of anthrax, or just cutaneous?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2001, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-immunity-to-anthrax/90536/4 "2001-10-31T00:40:28Z")

</div>

There have been at least two threads on this subject in the last month that I have responded to. Try searching GQ.