Table 1. Characteristics of probable and confirmed cases of cutaneous anthrax in Banlu village, China, July to August 2012.

Patients	Sex	Age	Role in butchering process	Onset	Discharge	Case definition	Blood smear	Real-time PCR			Gold colloid method
								Serum	Eschar	Blister liquid
Case 1	Male	48>	Butchering	26 July	27 August	Confirmed	(–)	(–)	(+)	–	(–)
Case 2	Male	23	Butchering	26 July	31 August	Confirmed	(–)	(–)	(+)	–	(–)
Case 3	Female	27	Washing	26 July	16 August	Probable	–	–	–	–	(–)
Case 4	Male	21	Butchering	27 July	20 August	Confirmed	(–)	(–)	(+)	–	(–)
Case 5	Male	59	Washing	27 July	10 August	Probable	–	–	–	–	(–)
Case 6	Male	26	Butchering	29 July	20 August	Confirmed	–	–	(–)	–	(+)
Case 7	Male	28	Butchering	30 July	30 August	Confirmed	(+)	(–)	(+)	(+)	(+)
Case 8	Female	43	Washing	2 August	16 August	Probable	–	–	–	–	(–)

PCR – polymerase chain reaction; (+) – positive; and (–) – negative.