Transcript Anthrax Attacks - honorsushistory

Anthrax Attacks
2001
Anthrax
•An infectious,
usually fatal disease
of warm-blooded
animals, especially
of cattle and sheep,
caused by the
bacterium Bacillus
anthracis.
Transmitted
• The disease can be
transmitted to
humans through
contact with
contaminated animal
substances, such as
hair, feces, or hides,
and is characterized
by ulcerative skin
lesions
Anthrax Cycle
First Hit
• First attack was one
week following the
9/11 attacks
• Sent from Trenton to
CBS News, NBC
News, ABC News,
and the New York
Post all located in
New York City.
The First Note
• The letter sent to The New York Post
contained a note saying:
09-11-01
–
–
–
–
–
THIS IS NEXT
TAKE PENACILIN NOW
DEATH TO AMERICA
DEATH TO ISRAEL
ALLAH IS GREAT
Death Attached
• One other letter was
sent to the National
Enquirer at America
Media, Inc. in Boca
Raton, Florida
• Robert Stevens- first
to die from Anthrax
while working at the
Sun (under AMI)
The Next Affected
• October 9, 2001- the
date of the next two
letters sent from same
Trenton return address
• Sent to Senators Tom
Daschel and Patrick
Leahy of South Dakota
and Vermont
The Next Killed
• October 15, 2001Government postal
service is shut down due
to Daschel’s aide
opening the infected
letter
Next Letter Found
• November 16, 2001Leahy letter found in
mail bag unopened in
Sterling, Virginia where
postal worker, David
Hose was killed by
inhalation Anthrax
Letters to Senators
The letters read:
– 09-11-01
– YOU CAN NOT STOP US.
– WE HAVE THIS ANTHRAX.
– YOU DIE NOW.
– ARE YOU AFRAID?
– DEATH TO AMERICA.
– DEATH TO ISRAEL.
– ALLAH IS GREAT.
The Letters Found
Comparing
• First 4 lettersAnthrax in form of a
granular, brown
substance- only
causing cutaneous
anthrax (skin
infections)
Comparing Cont.
• Second 2 to the
senators and the Sunin form of white,
powdery substancecausing inhalation
Anthrax
• Both from the same
bacterial strain
Tracking the Letters
REWARDS
•A reward was
posted for anyone
who came forward
for $2.5 million
from U.S Postal
Service, F.B.I. and
AVDO, Inc.
Suspects
• Many theories
erupted about who
sent the anthrax, but
no one was tried:
– Came from a Military
laboratory
– American public
became paranoid and
afraid
More Theories
– Philip Zach and Dr.
Steven Hatfill both
named as a “person of
intrest” but both denied
it
• Zach worked where
Anthrax originated
• Dr. Hatfill worked at Fort
Detrick at a medical
research facility studying
biological warfare
Contamination
• Afterwards, countless
buildings were infected
and contaminated
-had to be
fumigated by
chlorine dioxide
• FBI suggests total
clean-up cost was
about $1 billion