Historical Timeline of Bioterrorism Use:

700 BC- the Assyrians poisoned wells with rye ergot.




1300s- the Tartars catapulted plague-infected corpses over the walls of Kaffe (Crimea), which probably led to the Black Death plague epidemic that followed.




1700s- British soldiers gave blankets previously used by smallpox patients to the American Indians.



1940- The Chinese dropped ceramic containers holding plague-infected fleas on Manchuria.




1943-1945- In World War II the Germans used anthrax on United States soldiers' horses and mules.




1979- A biological weapons plant in Sverdlovsk, Russia accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores. There are 66 confirmed deaths, but the actual number of those killed is unknown. Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico determines the spores contained at least four different strains of anthrax.




1984- Rajneeshee Cult members sprayed salmonella on salad bars in Oregon, sickening more than 700 people.




1991- U.S. troops are vaccinated for anthrax before the Persian Gulf War. After the Gulf War, the United Nations conducts its first inspection of Iraq's biological weapons capabilities. Representatives of the Iraqi government confirm to a U.N. team that they had conducted research into the use of anthrax, botulism and other toxins.




2001- Letters containing anthrax spores are mailed to NBC News and the offices of Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) at the U.S. Capitol. At American Media in Florida, one person dies after contracting anthrax. Anthrax spores are found at N.Y. Gov. George Pataki's offices in New York City.



Today experts predict the most likely method of a biological attack will be an aerosolized agent.