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It's my thought that the terrorists did not prepare this in a way that left spore particles fine enough to really penetrate the lungs. Thus they managed to sicken very few people. Perhaps they exposed hundreds and most did not get sufficient quantities of the spore to sicken them. Since this disease is not significantly contagious, we are in for a couple weeks of nervousness and then an end to these cases unless they are still working on the distribution problem. Umm, it might be wise if you're working in an office not to open mail too enthusiastically. WASH YOUR HANDS VERY CAREFULLY AND OFTEN!!!!!!!

We need to be thinking in terms of what a natural flu epidemic can do to this country at this point in time and act accordingly. Influenza experts have been predicting an especially dangerous flu season this year even without the events of 9/11. Tell your sick coworkers NOT TO COME TO WORK and keep sick kids at home. Our martyrish habit of going to work sick could literally endanger the lives of millions. FLU ISN'T JUST TWO WEEKS OF MISERY. IT HAS KILLED MORE PEOPLE IN HISTORY THAN ANY OTHER AIR-BORNE DISEASE. And I have a feeling that dying of wild-strain flu is just as miserable of dying of terrorist-spread anthrax.

I see from your bio that you are a veterinarian. The level of ignorance in medical people is most distressing. Especially in times like these, you have a duty to yourself, your profession, the general public, and your country to improve your level of knowledge. Until you do so, you should not spread false notions.

The anthax outbreak you mentioned could NOT have been inhalation anthrax. It must have been caused by contact with the skin. How do I know? Because you said that the people recovered. No one recovers from inhaled anthrax once symptoms appear.

Cipro is known to be effective against inhaled anthrax, but ONLY if given before symptoms appear. That is to say, before the bacteria cause the deadly toxins to form. In other words, you have to start treatment based on known or even suspected exposure, not based on the development of symptoms.

It is the toxins produced by the anthrax, and not the anthrax illness itself, which is fatal and untreatable. Yes, you can give antibiotics after symptoms occur and kill the bacteria, but you won't lay a glove on the toxins, and the patient will die.

As to why Cipro is better than penicillin for inhalation anthrax, I cannot say exactly other than that Cipro is more potent, provides more coverage for more germs, and in this case you don't have time to try out the more garden variety antibiotics and "move up" to more powerful ones as indicated, which you might do with a less deadly and slower moving disease.
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Again, please study more on this subject. Do not rely on what you were taught in med/vet school or CME, your personal experience, or what the government including CDC is putting out. All three are unreliable sources upon which to draw in these unprecedented times.