Concentrated anthrax spores were used for bioterrorism in the 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States , delivered by mailing postal letters containing the spores . The letters were sent to several news media offices and two Democratic senators : Tom Daschle of South Dakota and Patrick Leahy of Vermont . As a result , 22 were infected and five died . Only a few grams of material were used in these attacks and in August 2008 , the US Department of Justice announced they believed that Bruce Ivins , a senior biodefense researcher employed by the United States government , was responsible . These events also spawned many anthrax hoaxes
2001 anthrax attacks
2001 anthrax attacks
Anthrax