Laboratory investigation of suspected bioterrorism incidents, NSW, October 2001 to February 2002

In October 2001, the threat of bioterrorism became a reality, following identification of a case of inhalational anthraxin the United States. This was the first case in a bioterrorism-related outbreak, caused by exposure to mail contaminated with spores of Bacillus anthracis. This provoked a worldwide spate of hoaxes and scares related to suspicious ‘white powders’.