What is anthrax?
Anthrax is a disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that has the ability to produce spores. These spores are similar to plant seeds in that they can survive in a dormant form for many years and can produce living bacteria when conditions are suitable, as when they come into contact with an animal or human. In certain parts of the world, herbivores or plant-eating animals such as sheep and goats can become infected with anthrax when they eat spores from the soil. Most human cases of anthrax occur as a result of exposure to these animals or their products.
Anthrax can cause illness in humans in three different ways. The most common form of anthrax in humans is an infection of the skin that can occur in people who work with the contaminated hides or wool of infected animals.
Another form of anthrax involves an infection of the intestine in those who eat improperly cooked meat of animals that have been infected with anthrax. The most devastating infection and the infection that we fear could be spread by terrorists is inhalational anthrax. This occurs when humans inhale anthrax spores.
How could terrorists use anthrax?
Our fear is that terrorists could accumulate a large quantity of anthrax spores and release them from an airplane to expose a great number of people. Unlike conventional terrorist attacks using explosives, the damage of such an attack would not be known for some time afterwards. In addition to casualties, such an attack could clearly cause a great deal of panic and social disruption.
