Guys, I think we're at an interesting point here. Let me say that up to now, I've been very unimpressed by the anthrax scare. Seems to be more of a public relations triumph than an effective bioweapon. However, new cases seem to be popping up here and there, and there are more and more facilities being identified as positive for anthrax, often in only in trace amounts. It hasn't disappeared yet, largely I guess due to the persistent nature of spore organisms.
Epidemics run in a similar fashion early on. A few cases here and there in a persistent fashion, and then one of two things happens. Either the infective agent dies out for various reasons (lack of transmissivity, poor quality, etc.), or the epidemic catches fire and takes of in geometric progression. We may be at that crossroads now. Only time will tell.