Anthrax Attacks

In 2001, letters containing anthrax were mailed to Democratic Senators Patrick Leahy and Tom Daschle in Washington DC, and several media offices. On July 29, 2008, Bruce E. Ivins, a government research microbiologist, committed suicide after learning he was about to be criminally charged in relation to the attacks.CBS News: Anthrax Investigation Documents Released (August 6, 2008) The FBI believes there is enough evidence against Ivins to close the investigation.ABC News: Anthrax Investigation: Case Closed? (August 4, 2008)

On August 6, 2008, the U.S. Department of Justice released court documents which detail evidence collected against Dr. Ivins during a long investigation into the anthrax attacks. Officials said Ivins had possession of anthrax spores with "certain genetic mutations identical to the anthrax used in the attacks."CNN.com: Court documents implicate researcher in 2001 anthrax attack (August 6, 2008)

1. Cause: Bacterium Bacillus anthracisCDC: Anthrax: What is anthrax?
2. Symptoms usually appear within 7 days of infectionCDC: Anthrax: What are the symptoms of anthrax?
3. Three types of infection: Cutaneous, inhalation, intestinalCDC: Anthrax: What are the symptoms of anthrax?
4. Cutaneous symptoms: Painless blister with black centerCDC: Anthrax: What are the symptoms of anthrax?
5. Inhalation symptoms: Often flu-likeCDC: Anthrax: What are the symptoms of anthrax?
6. 95% of cases: CutaneousCDC: Anthrax: What are the symptoms of anthrax?
7. Treatment: AntibioticsCDC: Anthrax: Is there a treatment for anthrax?