What would be a worse case scenario for a terrorist anthrax attack?
In 1970, the World Health Organization estimated that, 50 kilograms (110 lbs.) of anthrax released from an aircraft over an urban population of five million (5,000,000) would result in approximately two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) cases of anthrax. A similar 1993 report estimated that releasing a cloud of 100 kilograms (220 lbs.) of anthrax spores upwind of Washington, D.C. could cause between one hundred thirty thousand (130,000) and three million (3,000,000) deaths. Production of these quantities of anthrax would be a significant undertaking and would require the use of a sophisticated bio-tech laboratory and an original source of anthrax bacteria to begin the culturing process, as well as substantial funding – on a national level. The deadliness of an anthrax attack depends obviously on the quantity of spores and the effectiveness of a delivery system. Reports linking the World Trade Center attackers with inquiries about crop-dusting planes certainly suggest they might have bee
