ABSTRACT
There is perhaps no duty more fundamental to American government than the protection of the public's health, safety, and welfare. On September 11, 2001, this governmental duty was severely tested through a series of terrorist acts. Developments concerning the intentional spread of anthrax through the US mails provide a modern example of bioterrorism activity in the United States. However, bioterrorism has long been a part of the nation's past. Numerous examples of attempted and actual bioterrorist activity have been documented in American and world history. Given the nation's current level of preparedness for bioterrorism, a large-scale bioterrorist attack would be unprecedented in its impact on morbidity and mortality in the US population. The limited, intentional spread of anthrax has shown that public health authorities are not fully prepared to handle a large-scale bioterrorism event. Responding to a bioterrorism event may require public health authorities to exercise broader powers than they traditionally employ.
