The victims died within a few weeks of exposure to the bacteria. 11 others survived.^[2][3][4] Traces of the leak were allegedly covered up by Soviet authorities. The Soviet Union strongly denied any involvement and blamed locals consuming infected meat, in fear of revealing Biological Weapons Convention violations.^[5] A leaflet campaign warned residents not to buy meat from unofficial markets.^[2][4] The incident was kept secret until the 1990s.^[2]

Victims suffered from pulmonary anthrax but Soviet scientists claimed that it was gastrointestinal to support the claims that infected meat was responsible for the outbreak. Some journalists claimed that the death toll was as high as 100 victims.

15 infected

17 infected

It is possible that Bruce Edwards Ivins was responsible for this incident. He was a doctor working on an anthrax vaccination for more than 20 years, which got pulled off the market. Federal investigators have suggested that he infected the mail with anthrax spores so the public would realize they need the anthrax vaccination.^[8] He later killed himself with a tylenol overdose before charges could be brought against him.

Government officials sent samples of the suspected anthrax to a laboratory in Delhi for confirmation testing. People with the victims reported that the victims vomited blood and complained of chest and stomach aches.^[10] The Hindustan Times reported that village residents lynched a man who had treated some anthrax patients with herbs.^[11]

2,300 animal deaths