They would sometimes develop circular lesions on their skin with a coal black centre, hence the name of the disease “anthrax” from the Greek word for coal. Koch also identified the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, for which he was awarded the 1905 Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine. Release of the spores caused 11 cases of cutaneous anthrax and 11 cases of inhalation anthrax. Five of the inhalation victims died, while six other individuals with inhalation anthrax — and all the individuals with cutaneous anthrax recovered. Once anthrax spores had been identified in the letters, a massive cleanup was undertaken using a variety of chemicals.