Dr. Marcy Leighton

It was the first time, I think, that we were planning to do a large-scale exercise.

It was the first time, I think, that we were planning to do a large-scale exercise.

The consequences were quite high if something was released in a place like New York City with the potential to cause, you know, hundreds of thousands or more cases.

The consequences were quite high if something was released in a place like New York City with the potential to cause, you know, hundreds of thousands or more cases.

It's one thing to sort of talk about it and have a written plan. It's another thing to set this up quickly.

It's one thing to sort of talk about it and have a written plan. It's another thing to set this up quickly.

Part of the preparation for a large-scale aerosolized release of anthrax was the recognition that we would need to give antibiotics out quickly to potentially a large number of people.

Part of the preparation for a large-scale aerosolized release of anthrax was the recognition that we would need to give antibiotics out quickly to potentially a large number of people.

The plan was the cadets would go through, but then get back in line as new people.

The plan was the cadets would go through, but then get back in line as new people.

We didn't want to waste true antibiotics, ciprofloxacin and doxycycline. So instead of using real medication, they just had two different kinds of M&Ms, one for cipro and one for doxies.

We didn't want to waste true antibiotics, ciprofloxacin and doxycycline. So instead of using real medication, they just had two different kinds of M&Ms, one for cipro and one for doxies.

So I think it was a Friday. It's always a Friday. And so it was like 3 o'clock in the morning when I got a call from a friend of mine who worked at CDC. Marci, this is David. I'm calling because the director of CDC wants to talk to you. We're going to call you back in a few minutes. We'll give you a couple minutes to wake up for the call.

So I think it was a Friday. It's always a Friday. And so it was like 3 o'clock in the morning when I got a call from a friend of mine who worked at CDC. Marci, this is David. I'm calling because the director of CDC wants to talk to you. We're going to call you back in a few minutes. We'll give you a couple minutes to wake up for the call.

And I'm like, David, if you're calling me to tell me at 3 o'clock in the morning that the CDC director wants to talk to me, you're basically telling me the result is positive.

And I'm like, David, if you're calling me to tell me at 3 o'clock in the morning that the CDC director wants to talk to me, you're basically telling me the result is positive.

They took one look at the lesion and were convinced that it was anthrax.

They took one look at the lesion and were convinced that it was anthrax.

We'll never forget it because we went lights and sirens while he was yelling into the microphone for cars to get out of the way.

We'll never forget it because we went lights and sirens while he was yelling into the microphone for cars to get out of the way.