Anthrax occurs naturally and is a concern for all of us that handle goat or cow hides in the raw form with the hair on it. The desease remains in the hair of the animal and can remain there for a long time. I am not AS worried about it because I have been making my drums and re-heading drums with skins that have had the hair shaved off. I don't do this out of fear of anthrax poisoning but primarily because I personally feel that the shaved skins perform better. I suppose that there is still a small risk, but far far less than with hides which have the hair on. I purchase over 100 skins a year to do re-heading and to build drums. I alwys handle them with gloves until I place them into a sealed bag with chlorine powder and leave them to sit for a few weeks. I add a bit of photo-stop solution to the water that I soak them in to stop the action of the chlorine and I have been assured by the health people that my practices are the right approach.
Anthrax is not something to be treated lightly, though it is extremely rare. (Seriously it really is rare) But if raw skins are handled properly and with precautions, it should not be an issue to worry about.