The Anthrax Letters: The Attacks That Shocked America (26 page)

Dr. Larry Bush, physician who first diagnosed anthrax during the 2001 outbreak. The patient, Robert Stevens, subsequently died.

Ernesto Blanco, mailroom employee at American Media, Inc., the only victim of inhalation anthrax to fully recover.

Leroy Richmond, Washington postal worker, who seven years after contracting inhalation anthrax, still had symptoms related to the disease.

Jyotsna Patel, New Jersey postal worker, who, seven years after contracting inhalation anthrax, still had symptoms related to the disease.

Cutaneous (skin) anthrax.

All four recovered anthrax letters were processed at the Hamilton, NJ, postal center, which was sealed shut in 2001. After decontamination, at a cost of $65 million, it reopened in 2005. (Decontamination of the Washingon, D.C., postal center cost $130 million.)

Searching for suspected anthrax letters

High Containment Laboratory (BSL-3) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Julie Gerberding, who coordinated field activities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the 2001 anthrax outbreak, became CDC Director in 2002.

Steven Hatfill was named “a person of interest” in the anthrax case by the U.S. Attorney General in 2002. He sued the government and was awarded $5.8 million in 2008.

Bruce Ivins was publicly named by the FBI as the anthrax perpetrator in August 2008, a few days after he had committed suicide.

Robert Mueller III became director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on September 4, 2001 (two weeks before the first anthrax letters were mailed). He contends that Bruce Ivins was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.