[ironwill]

Question: How many spores can exist in a small quanity of powder in an envelope?

Enough to infect a lot of people. Individual results may vary depending on nostril size. ;-)

Seriously, think of how devastating it would be if large amounts of money were contaminated with anthrax. Think of how many times a day that money would change hands. Sounds like it could be used as a plot to make the complete transition to a cashless society. Scary.

[jeremiah]

Money contaminated with Anthrax would be an ineffecient killer, and a poor way to transmit this disease. Now with smallpox that is a different thing. It is communicable, and will live on inert objects for a considerable length of time. Although it only kills approximatelly 30 out of every hundred infected, it is a easily spread disease. I have heard that an infected person within 6 feet of a healthy one, is enough to pass the bad dude on. Now I can see that being a reason to go to a cashless society.