A subtle reminder of the 2001 anthrax attacks, triggering the most expensive FBI investigation in its history, appeared in a "this day in history" note today, October 5, 2019:
"2001 — Tabloid photo editor Robert Stevens died from inhaled anthrax, the first of a series of anthrax cases in Florida, New York, New Jersey and Washington."
Five victims died in the anthrax attacks of 2001, and about a dozen were infected but survived. The bioterror attack followed the shocking 9/11 attack on the United States. The anthrax attacks clearly meant to mislead the investigators into believing Al Qaida was responsible, with the scrawled letter that came in the envelopes containing anthrax spores intended for inhalation by the victims.
The FBI, led by Robert Mueller, had to quickly get up to speed on understanding biology as a weapon. Not surprisingly, the investigation was frought with missteps and confusion. The investigation dragged on for ten years, and was only ended with the suicide of the most likely suspect, who had not yet been arrested by the FBI.
The United States through the National Institutes of Health, and its National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIH/NIAID) funded Centers of Excellence throughout the U.S. to pull together our best research on combatting infectious diseases. This program lasted a little more than ten years, and Pres. Obama chose to let the vast scientific research capacity that was built dissolve into history, with no continuing support. Bioterrorism started to fade from memory.
Today, undergraduate students were mostly born after the 9/11 attacks and the anthrax attacks. Recognizing the anniversary date of the first anthrax death of Robert Stevens, is a reminder of that horrendously terrorizing period in our nation's history. It should also serve as a reminder that we are still unprepared and vulnerable to another bioterrorism attack, today with vastly better biotechnology tools to develop bioweapons.
"2001 — Tabloid photo editor Robert Stevens died from inhaled anthrax, the first of a series of anthrax cases in Florida, New York, New Jersey and Washington."
Five victims died in the anthrax attacks of 2001, and about a dozen were infected but survived. The bioterror attack followed the shocking 9/11 attack on the United States. The anthrax attacks clearly meant to mislead the investigators into believing Al Qaida was responsible, with the scrawled letter that came in the envelopes containing anthrax spores intended for inhalation by the victims.
The FBI, led by Robert Mueller, had to quickly get up to speed on understanding biology as a weapon. Not surprisingly, the investigation was frought with missteps and confusion. The investigation dragged on for ten years, and was only ended with the suicide of the most likely suspect, who had not yet been arrested by the FBI.
The United States through the National Institutes of Health, and its National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIH/NIAID) funded Centers of Excellence throughout the U.S. to pull together our best research on combatting infectious diseases. This program lasted a little more than ten years, and Pres. Obama chose to let the vast scientific research capacity that was built dissolve into history, with no continuing support. Bioterrorism started to fade from memory.
Today, undergraduate students were mostly born after the 9/11 attacks and the anthrax attacks. Recognizing the anniversary date of the first anthrax death of Robert Stevens, is a reminder of that horrendously terrorizing period in our nation's history. It should also serve as a reminder that we are still unprepared and vulnerable to another bioterrorism attack, today with vastly better biotechnology tools to develop bioweapons.
Excellent commentary! Yes, we are still woefully unprepared for a biological attack on a large scale, without the coordination of subject-matter experts and emergency preparedness efforts. Fortunately incremental progress continues to be made on vaccines and treatments for the deadliest agents.
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