Question

In September 2001, letters with anthrax were sent to the New York Post and NBC's Tom Brokaw. Twenty-three people contracted anthrax and five died. These deaths were the first as a result of _____ in recent U.S. history.

Answer 1

Biological weapon.

Biological warfare (germ warfare) is the use of toxins or infectious bacteria, viruses, and fungi with the intentions to kill or infect humans, animals, plants, or any living thing as an act of warfare.

Answer 2

In September 2001, letters with anthrax were sent to the New York Post and NBC's Tom Brokaw. Twenty-three people contracted anthrax and five died. These deaths were the first as a result of biological weapons in recent U.S. history.

Step-by-step explanation:

The anthrax attacks in 2001 in the United States occurred in the course of several weeks from September 18 to October 9, 2001. The letters containing anthrax spores were sent to several media offices (ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, New York Post and National Enquirer) and two Senators (Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy), in New York, Boca Raton and Washington DC. The result was a total of 22 infected people, five of whom died. It ended with the guilt of Bruce Edwards Ivins, a microbiologist who worked at Fort Detrick. On July 29, 2008, he killed himself by an overdose of paracetamol.