# Can my microwave oven kill anthrax?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-microwave-oven-kill-anthrax/90067>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 28, 2001, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-microwave-oven-kill-anthrax/90067 "2001-10-28T04:46:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mickeydw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@mickeydw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mickeydw)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-microwave-oven-kill-anthrax/90067/1 "2001-10-28T04:46:45Z")

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I have heard that by putting a damp towel into a microwave oven for one minute you will create a sterile dressing for a wound.  
I assume that since the microwave kills germs, this might lead to the conclusion that it could kill something like anthrax. So, using this logic, can I microwave my mail to eliminate the threat of anthrax.

I saw on the news recently that the same method used to irradiate meat can be used to kill anthrax. Am I on to something??

Waiting with baited breath in Colorado,

MickeyDW

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-microwave-oven-kill-anthrax/90067/2 "2001-10-28T06:44:43Z")

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This topic has been discussed in at least two different threads in recent days. I’ll close this thread and direct any remaining questions to the earlier threads:  
[What kills Anthrax?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=92908)  
[At-home anti-anthrax mail handing procedure suggestion?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=94736)

bibliophage  
moderator GQ