Enter the word anthrax in your search engine, and the first link likely to pop up is a site about the Department of Defense's anthrax immunization program.

If you imagine a dreary government treatise on the threats of biological warfare, think again. And crank up the volume. The Web site's simulated steel doors open and close, a hazard sign flashes "Anthrax kills, vaccination protects," hypnotic concentric circles and green sonic waves move across the scene to a thumping techno dance track.

As you roll your mouse over each main listing on the homepage, a soothing female voice tells you about each topic: "The disease is lethal," she says as you mouse over the section about the illness. "The threat is real," she coos as you pass over the section about the threat of anthrax.

A DOD spokesman told Court TV that the site is not intended for civilians. Instead, it is meant to encourage military personnel to get vaccinated, and was designed with people of "military age" in mind. That's 18 to 30. "It is not tailored for young children or older people. It's intent is for military persons and the objective is to make anthrax a routine vaccination [for the military]," Jim Turner said.

The recent scare about the spore-forming bacteria has made the public more interested in the disease, its symptoms and threats, and how it can be produced. But the military has always been concerned about these things. The vaccine has been available since 1970, and 2.1 million doses have been given to 520,000 service members since 1998, according to the site.

"Just as vaccines are required for school children for the good of the community, anthrax vaccine is mandatory for military personnel as an important force health protection measure," the Web site says.

But civilians can't get the vaccine.

Bioport, the only company in the U.S. that is licensed to create it, only supplies the vaccine to the military's Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program.

Until recently, anthrax has been extremely rare in the general population, and mostly of concern as a potential weapon. That's because, according to the DOD, it is highly lethal if inhaled, is one of the easiest biological agents to manufacture, can be easily spread in the air over a large area, and is easily stored and dangerous for a long period. Naturally occurring, the disease comes largely from livestock, like cattle, sheep and goats.

Although the vaccine is not a certain defense, the Centers for Disease Control estimates it is 93 percent effective.

With all the site's video game-like elements, a user might forget, for a moment, about the seriousness of the topic at hand. But the site does aim to educate about "weaponized anthrax," the nature of the disease, and the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.

One of the main concerns about the vaccine, according to the site, has been its side effects. Allegations arose during the Persian Gulf War, for example, that soldiers vaccinated during that time, became sick. But the DOD claims no evidence has been found to link anthrax with illnesses among Gulf War veterans. "There have been several unsubstantiated allegations in the media and elsewhere about experimental vaccinations that may have contained non-FDA-licensed substances. Only the FDA-licensed anthrax was used then or now," the site says.

For all its detailed information, you won't find anything here about the current anthrax scare. Remember, the site is not for civilians.

"This site is relevant to the army," Turner said. And as such, it is only concerned about the needs of its soldiers. "We went from needing a few thousand shots to a lot more in a very short span of time," he said.

And what about civilians? Will they be vaccinated? Not likely, said Turner. Currently, he said, there is no proven threat which would create that need. In the meantime, enjoy the music.

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