Analysis of Forensic Investigations of Bacillus Anthracis Throughout History: Evolutionary Trends

Abstract

The phenomenon of biological warfare, employing biological weapons, has been known for thousands of years, and the use of biological agents as tools of warfare has been aimed at instilling fear and causing harm among both humans and animals. The bacterium Bacillus anthracis was historically associated with wool sorter’s disease until 2001, when it was used as a bioterrorist weapon in the United States of America (USA). That particular year marked a turning point in the field of forensic science and the identification of this type of biological agent. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyze cases of Bacillus anthracis being used as a bioterrorist weapon and to provide an overview of the forensic procedures in its identification.
By analyzing cases of Bacillus anthracis used as a bioterrorist weapon since 2001, we identified 22 cases out of a total of 125,000 samples, comprising 11 cases of inhalational anthrax and 11 of cutaneous anthrax. Samples were processed in laboratories and by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the USA. The analysis covered two groups: the first group included populations from southern Florida, New York, and New Jersey, recording 9 victims, of whom 7 had cutaneous anthrax and 2 had inhalational anthrax. The second group comprised populations from Washington, DC, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, and Virginia, with 13 reported cases, including 9 cases of inhalational anthrax. The analysis revealed that inhalational anthrax has the highest mortality rate. Therefore, establishing protocols for safe handling in suspected cases of Bacillus anthracis as a bioterrorist weapon is crucial in forensic procedures.