Anthrax is classified as which type of disease?

• A. Bacterial
• B. Viral
• C. Fungal
• D. Parasitic

Answer: (A)

We classify anthrax by the type of organism causing the disease, and it is a bacterial infection. Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that forms durable spores and produces toxins leading to disease. This contrasts with viral diseases (caused by viruses that require living host cells to replicate), fungal infections (caused by fungi such as molds or yeasts), and parasitic diseases (caused by protozoa or helminths). Because the agent behind anthrax is a bacterium, the correct designation is bacterial.