In spite of its status as an ancient disease and modern bioweapon, most people knew little about anthrax before it was spread through the U.S. mail in October. When the assault-by-letter began, however, the public suddenly needed detailed information on how the deadly bacteria wreak their havoc and how they might be stopped. continued...

Photo: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

Download this story in
Acrobat PDF format.
(requires Acrobat Reader)

Reprinted from the HHMI Bulletin,
December 2001, page 9.
©2001 Howard Hughes Medical Institute