In a small town in Oregon in 1984, the first biological attack was launched

against the United States. For over a decade, the details of this nearly

catastrophic event were with health and the public. This is how forensic science

unearthed the biological trail.

This small town in Oregon is called the Dales and is perched high above the

Columbia River about 80 miles new east of Portland. It seems like you've

driven back into 50s and it seems in the physical appearance it seems frozen

frozen in time in that way. Dave and Sandy Lutkins are among the 11,000

residents who find the Dales the perfect place to raise a family.

Half an hour an hour from skiing, a lot of water sports, a lot of hiking.

It has pretty decent schools. We have pretty low crime.

On September 25th 1984, David and Sandy both became violently ill with cramps,

diarrhea and vomiting. Their dehydration caused delirium.

I never felt that bad in my life. The room was spinning and he didn't care about anything.

Well let's put it this way. I would never want to be that sick again.

When David and his wife went to the hospital, they weren't the only ones seriously ill.

And then suddenly there were so many people. We had people laying on the floor.

We had people leaning up against the wall. There were people in the lobby.

They all had the same symptoms.

Microbiologists identified the cause. Salmonella.

Salmonella is a bacteria commonly found in eggs, meat, poultry, unpasteurized milk, water

and in animal feces, especially that of reptiles.

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