In 1981, Texas A&amp;M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory discovered a new strain of anthrax dubbed the Ames strain, which isolated from a diseased 14-month-old Beefmaster heifer that died in Sarita, Texas. This particular strain was later used in the 2001 anthrax attacks in which seven letters mailed to media outlets and US Senators on September 18, 2001 and October 9, 2001.