Anthrax has had a long, somewhat secret recorded history of use not only by others, but also our own government.The first recorded usage of Anthrax was with the Scandanavian Freedom Fighters (Supplied by German Military) to fight against the Russian Imperial Army in Finland in 1916.(Wikipedia) The Japanese Kwantung army had recorded testing of Anthrax as a weapon in the 1930’s.This new form of bio-terrorism was tested on Prisoners of war during the time. some of this testing involved intentional infection of prisoners of war, thousands of whom died. From then to about 1972, (When the U.S Signed the “Biological Weapons Convention”) the United States had stockpiled “Weaponized Anthrax” (FBI.gov) These “Weaponized stocks of anthrax in the US” were destroyed after President Nixon ordered the U.S Bio-warfare program to be stopped. The stock was eliminated in 1972. Later on, the Soviet Union created 200 tons of anthrax spores and stockpiled them at Vozrozhdeniya Island in Kantubek. “The stockpile was abandoned in 1992 and destroyed in 2002.” (Wikipedia). After the terrible day of September 11, Anthrax - laced letters started appearing in the U.S Postal Service. “Five Americans were killed and 17 were sickened in what became the worst biological attacks in U.S. history.” Because of this incident, the FBI created a specialized task force called “The Amerithrax Task Force” which spends countless hours in counter biological warfare.

In recent years, Multiple types of Anthrax Vaccines have been researched and developed for those who might be exposed to the deadly infection. The Anthrax Vaccine is made with a strain of “Inactive” Anthrax bacteria (which isn’t whole, living or dead) which can not cause the infection. The main portion of the vaccine is a protein which the anthrax itself creates, called “Protective Antigen.” Using this as the main portion helps your body create antibodies which “neutralize the anthrax germ’s ability to cause disease” (Military Vaccine Agency). This vaccine is also created with a small portion of Aluminum so there is an increased immune response to the vaccine. The vaccine contains Benzethonium and a tiny amount of Formaldehyde. The uses of these two substances are essentially to preserve the vaccination in it’s vial and keep it from contamination. “The Anthrax Vaccine contains no mercury, no penicillin, no fetal tissue, no eggs, and no pork...” and is FDA Approved.

From origin and history to modern day science, this deadly disease has been closer to us than we’ve thought. It’s scary to think something like a disease normally found in animals can be used in acts of terror to murder human beings.This deadly disease has been used for harm throughout the world both by our government and other organizations, kept in secret by government officials until recently. From the 2001 biological terror, to research in top-level medical labs, to recent vaccines, this disease has been studied and understood for years. It’s comforting to know that through proper safety, disposal, and advances in bio-medicine, something as deadly as this disease can be overcome. This deadly disease is Anthrax.

After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, Letters with traces of Anthrax had begun showing up in U.S Mail. In this biological terror, “Five Americans were killed and 17 were sickened in what became the worst biological attacks in U.S. history.” (FBI.gov) Because of these attacks, the FBI created a team called “Amerithrax” for counter biological terror.
In August 2008, FBI officials announced a breakthrough in the terrorism case.Through microbial forensics, scientists we’re able to “fingerprint” the bacteria from the letters and trace it back to someone surprising. FBI officials released information tracing these attacks back to Dr. Bruce Ivins. The scientist, Bruce Ivins, was a renowned expert on Anthrax, and had even “been honoured by the Pentagon for his work.” Ivins “worked at the U.S. government's elite bio-defence research laboratories at Fort Detrick, Maryland, for 18 years.”(FBI.gov). Ivins had been working closely with the FBI to trace the source of the anthrax attacks, and because of that, he was able to make attempts to cover his trail. When Bruce Ivins had learned the FBI was onto his trail, he had “apparently” taken his own life to avoid capture on 29 July, 2008. On 19 February, 2010, The FBI and Justice Department released a formal conclusion to the 2001 Anthrax Attacks.
Anthrax is an acute disease which is caused by a bacteria called Bacillus Anthracis. This bacteria is a rod-shaped, Gram-positive, aerobic bacteria about 1x 9 micrometers in length. This lethal disease was normally more common in free range animals, but within the years has been spread to people as well. This lethal bacteria is normally in the form of dormant “endospores” or spores. Bacillus Anthracis can shut down it’s own metabolic functions and convert itself quickly into it’s dormant, protective spore to ensure survival. When these dormant spores are ingested, inhaled, or come into contact with broken skin, they reactivate and rapidly multiply. The Anthrax disease does not spread directly from carrier to victim, but rather transports it’s spores by means of clothing or anything the spores can attach to. Since the bacteria itself is soil-borne and normally in it’s dormant spore form, it can survive for years and still become active. These spores have been known to reinfect animals more than 70 years of being buried. This bacteria was first recorded to cause a lethal disease in 1876 by Robert koch.