The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just issued an update warning of the threat of anthrax being used as a bioterrorist attack. The CDC updated its website to warn that anthrax would most likely be used if the United States is hit with a bioterrorist attack.
According to the CDC’s website:
“If a bioterrorist attack were to happen, Bacillus anthracis, the bacteria that causes anthrax, would be one of the biological agents most likely to be used.”
“Anthrax makes a good weapon because it can be released quietly and without anyone knowing,” the CDC’s warning continues.
“The microscopic spores could be put into powders, sprays, food, and water.
“Because they are so small, you may not be able to see, smell, or taste them.”
The CDC warning comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new anthrax vaccine just last week.
The FDA recently approved Emergent BioSolution’s new anthrax vaccine for adults 18-65.
Cyfendus was approved by the FDA for use for any confirmed or suspected exposure to anthrax but must be administered with antibacterial drugs.
Per The CDC:
If A bioterrorist attack were to happen, Bacillus anthracis, the bacteria that causes anthrax, would be one of the biological agents most likely to be used.
Biological agents are germs that can sicken or kill people, livestock, or crops.
Anthrax is one of the most likely agents to be used because Anthrax spores are easily found in nature, can be produced in a lab, and can last for a long time in the environment.
Anthrax makes a good weapon because it can be released quietly and without anyone knowing.
The microscopic spores could be put into powders, sprays, food, and water. Because they are so small, you may not be able to see, smell, or taste them.
Anthrax has been used as a weapon before.
Anthrax has been used as a weapon around the world for nearly a century. In 2001, powdered anthrax spores were deliberately put into letters that were mailed through the U.S. postal system.
Twenty-two people, including 12 mail handlers, got anthrax, and five of these 22 people died.
The news comes as Anthrax cases among livestock in the US have seen a spike in recent months.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health recently reported their first case of cattle being infected with anthrax in over a decade.
Per Fox 9 News:
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health announced cattle in northwestern Minnesota were infected with anthrax, the first recorded case in the state for more than a decade.
The disease was detected in a horse and cattle in Kittson County, and the property has since been quarantined, the BAH said in a press release Friday.
The last reported anthrax case was detected in a cow from Pennington County in June 2013. In the past, anthrax has typically been concentrated in northwest Minnesota and is rarely seen in the state as livestock can be vaccinated against the disease.
Back in March, Democrat presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he believes the CIA is connected to the anthrax attacks.
Kennedy told the Jimmy Dore Show that the letters were sent to both Sens. Patrick Leahy and Tom Daschle because they were trying to block the Patriot Act in 2001.
The anthrax attacks also known as the “Amerithrax” attacks occurred just one week after the September 11th terror attacks in 2001.
The attacks consisted of anthrax being sent through the United States Postal System via letters and delivered to several news organizations, as well as the two senators.
Kennedy stated that the FBI discovered anthrax in the letters originally “stemmed from a CIA lab in Fort Detrick, Maryland.”
WATCH:
US FDA approves Emergent BioSolutions’ anthrax vaccine https://t.co/iUE7P1J7rG
— G. Scott Weston, RPh, MBA, PhD (he/him/his) (@gscottweston) July 24, 2023
Anthrax found in Minnesota cattle for first time in decadehttps://t.co/inboXllsgS
— SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19) (@COVID19_disease) July 7, 2023
