The Brown & White

Almost eight years ago to the day, letters containing anthrax powder began showing up in the mailboxes of several high-profile American citizens and media outlets.

Over several weeks, 17 people became infected and five people died of the infectious disease.

In 2008, Bruce Ivins, a government scientist, was investigated as the "sole" anthrax-mailing suspect, according to authorities at the time. Before a criminal investigation was held, he committed suicide.

Throughout the entirety of the anthrax scare, offices closed down as hospitals tested for more cases and public fear ran rampant. But the forensic evidence in the case was never compiled and analyzed to the satisfaction of the government.

Now, in an effort to understand what truly happened in 2001, the National Academy of Sciences is running a panel to study and form conclusions about the anthrax scare.

"We are holding information gathering meetings, in order to hear evidence," said President Alice Gast, who is heading the investigation panel filled with scientists from a wide variety of fields, including chemists, technicians, a justice and specialists in infectious disease.

"The group members were chosen for their balanced, unbiased views," Gast said. "It was a privilege to take an in-depth look at an important subject with such a diverse, informed group of people."

The panel met once in July and will meet several more times, including this month, until they finish formulating a report.

Although Gast cannot currently disclose the opinions of the panel, the full report detailing its conclusions will be released within the year.

The report, which will be reviewed by outside experts and presented on Capitol Hill, will contain guidelines for handling bioterroristic threats in the future.

Officials will gain advice on how to properly manage microbial forensic cases, including law enforcements' collection of bacteria and medical experts' identification of disease.

"It will be a service to agencies for the future, in the chance that bioterroristic threats arise again," Gast said. "They will be able to respond more quickly to an urgent situation that is consistently new and changing."

Gast compared the anthrax case to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS, epidemic in China several years ago.

"The situations are parallel because the national and world community needed to come together to identify the problem," she said. "No one expected someone in a hospital to have SARS or anthrax."

This is the third panel Gast has worked on for the National Academy of Sciences.