In a military operation it is anticipated that anthrax would be unlikely to cause severe disruptions to operations, although residual contamination of the ground would occur, as shown by the Gruinard experience. Anthrax is more of a danger to the civilian population of a city. Based on scientific calculations, the World Health Organisation10 gave an estimate of possible casualties following the release of 50 kg of dried anthrax powder by aerosolisation for two hours on a city of 500 000 inhabitants. It was calculated that 95 000 deaths would occur, with 125 000 individuals being incapacitated. The strain on medical resources would be tremendous, leading to bed requirements for 12 500 individuals (10% of those incapacitated), antibiotics for 60 days for 125 000 people, and the disposal of 95 000 dead. This would almost certainly lead to a rapid total breakdown in medical resources and civilian infrastructures.
In view of these recent events,11,12 it is opportune to review the disease of anthrax and its causative agent B anthracis. The reader is encouraged to read other similar texts.13–15