Federal health officials say they are investigating the accidental shipment of live anthrax bacteria to labs in nine states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms that it's investigating the accidental shipments.

No one's been sickened by the bacteria, which can cause potentially deadly illness although it's easily treated with antibiotics if caught soon enough.

"CDC is investigating the possible inadvertent transfer of a select agent from the U. S. Department of Defense (DOD) to labs in nine states. At this time we do not suspect any risk to the general public," CDC said in a statement sent to NBC News.

"At this time we do not suspect any risk to the general public."

Department of Defense spokesman Col. Steven H. Warren told NBC News the shipments were mistakenly sent out from the U.S. Army's Dugway Proving Ground in Utah.

"The DoD lab was working as part of a DoD effort to develop a field-based test to identify biological threats in the environment," Warren said. "Out of an abundance of caution, DoD has stopped the shipment of this material from its labs pending completion of the investigation."

CDC says the anthrax was being used to develop a test in case someone used the bacteria as part of a bioterror attack.

"The lab was working as part of a DOD effort to develop a new diagnostic test to identify biological threats. Although an inactivated agent was expected, the lab reported they were able to grow live Bacillus anthracis," CDC said.