The following December, Russian inspection teams visit the closed-up U.S. biological facilities and see that the U.S. has ended its offensive program. However, the Russians report back to Moscow that the U.S. continues to have an offensive program. He confirms many of the West's suspicions of Russia's offensive biological program, including the fact that Russia has used its smallpox stock to make weapons. Sverdlovsk Admission President Yeltsin, without giving details, admits the Sverdlovsk anthrax outbreak was caused by activity at the military facility. Around the same time, a team of Western and Russian scientists visit the city of Sverdlovsk and conclude the outbreak was caused by anthrax spores accidentally released from the facility.
Some analysts suspect the bomb was laced with cyanide that failed to ignite.
Six people are killed and hundreds injured. Due to the poor quality of the sarin agent and an ineffective dispersal system, casualties are lower than expected. Afterwards, the religious group is found to have been experimenting with anthrax and other biological agents. The fire department seals off the building for what turns out to be a hoax. The Defense Department begins an anthrax vaccination program to immunize all military personnel against anthrax.