In recent weeks, the United States has witnessed an unprecedented number of attacks involving the potentially deadly disease anthrax (see "Anthrax 101: What Is It And What Can It Do To Us?"). Whether the culprits behind these crimes are the same as those who masterminded the September 11 hijackings is not clear. What is clear, no matter who is responsible, is the need for a quick, coordinated response.

While the country has never confronted such a threat from chemical or germ warfare at home, the federal government has a number of agencies assigned to deal with it. State and local agencies also respond to health emergencies.

The roles and responsibilities of those agencies frequently overlap, an issue that President Bush addressed when he created an Office of Homeland Security at the White House shortly after the September 11 attacks. The office, directed by former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, coordinates all government efforts to ensure domestic national security.

Among more than 20 agencies that Ridge and his 100-member staff will seek to coordinate in controlling an anthrax threat are:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Based in Atlanta, the CDC is the lead U.S. agency charged with "protecting the health and safety of people — at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships." The CDC has more than 500 disease detectives ready around the clock to test and identify dangerous substances. CDC teams have been in New York, New Jersey, Florida and Washington, D.C., in recent weeks analyzing the various strains of anthrax that have appeared. The CDC is a sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Food and Drug Administration

Another sub-agency of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration tests and authorizes the use of various drugs. The FDA has moved aggressively to sanction the use of antibiotics other than the well-publicized Cipro to treat exposure to anthrax.

Health and Human Services has stockpiled enough Cipro to treat about 2 million Americans. Bayer, the German drug company that has the patent for Cipro, has ramped up its production of the drug. But even with its factories operating non-stop, the company says it will take 18 months to produce enough doses for the nearly 300 million people who live in the United States.

As a result, Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, and other legislators have pressured the FDA to break Bayer's patent for Cipro. This would allow other drug companies to produce generic versions of the antibiotic. On October 18, the Canadian government took such a step, allowing manufacturers in that country to produce the drug. The Bush administration argues that such a move is unnecessary, pointing out that other antibiotics, such as penicillin, have proven effective against anthrax.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI's primary responsibility in the anthrax scare is to uncover who sent envelopes containing anthrax spores to media companies and to Capitol Hill. The Bureau's charge is to "protect the United States from foreign intelligence and terrorist activities." The FBI works closely with other federal, state, local and international crime-fighting agencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency

After the September 11 attacks, FEMA officials rushed to New York to coordinate the search and recovery efforts at the site of the World Trade Center. FEMA is the agency charged with managing the consequences of terrorist attacks, training those who respond to emergencies and assisting states in developing emergency plans. In the event of a major anthrax outbreak in a given community, FEMA would help coordinate the government's on-site response.

Other Agencies

Hundreds of state and local agencies are working to address concerns about anthrax. Every state has a health department, as do all major cities. State and local law-enforcement agencies can also work to track down those who try to pollute the atmosphere with anthrax or other biological weapons.

For more information on Bioterrorism, check out the primer at CBSNews.com.

For more information on and audience reaction to the attacks, including tips on how you can help, see "9.11.01: Moving Forward."

Share your thoughts on the attacks in Afghanistan in You Tell Us.