By Davina Willett
Court TV

The Anthrax Scare

Another random and public panic that swept through the country was the anthrax scare that took center stage just weeks after September 11th. Within a month of the terrorist attacks, the Bush administration released an ominous statement that there was almost a 100 percent chance of an anthrax or other bio/germ warfare attack on the American people.

The evening news reported on October 15, 2001, that an anthrax contaminated letter was delivered to the office of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. Later that evening the media reported that a child, who had visited the ABC/NEWS offices in New York, was also infected.

Copy of letter sent with anthrax.

Over the next few months, major TV networks, major newspapers, and the offices of Democratic senators received anthrax tainted letters.

Some scientists believed that people may have actually received anthrax letters unknowingly, and not fallen ill due to the poor quality of the anthrax. The FBI put up a $2.5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a person or persons responsible for the anthrax-laced mail.

The feelings of hopelessness and vulnerability that swept the country post September 11th were only exacerbated by the anthrax scare and continued to keep the country on edge. Overall, five people died and 13 others fell ill due to the anthrax-by-mail attacks, with residents from Florida to New York contaminated. To date, no arrests have been made.