United States updates recommendations for managing anthrax attacks

The United States (US) Working Group on Civilian Biodefence has recently published an updated consensus statement for the management of deliberate releases of anthrax (1). The recommendations are consistent with European guidelines, and offer some additional information. Evidence emerging from the deliberate releases of anthrax in the US postal system in October 2001 has been included, along with older data from the accidental release at Sverdlovsk in 1979, and from human and animal trials.