What causes it?

Anthrax is a bacterial infection caused by the organism Bacillus anthracis. It can be found in grazing wild and domestic animals, such as cows and sheep. Agricultural regions in which it can found are Asia, Africa, South America, and parts of Europe.
The bacterium, Bacillus anthracis, forms spores that can survive and lay dormant in the environment, for example, in the soil. These spores need a suitable environment to germinate and cause anthrax infection. This environment may be in the skin, lungs or the intestine.