Bioterrorism: Can you stop the outbreak?

Information provided:  Panic and fear have spread across the country as 106 individuals in a large metropolitan center have come down with a severe illness of unknown origin. The media has announced a large terrorist cell has claimed responsibility and is taunting the government with claims of highly contagious and virulent pathogen.

Microbiologists are scrambling to identify and characterize the bacteria from patient specimens in order to instate successful control measures nd devise an effective therapeutic regimen.  For this fictional scenario,

Which bacterial species would you suspect is the causative agent and why. What features make your selected bacterial species a good candidate for an agent of bioterrorism?

What methods would you recommend for collection, culturing and identifying the species you have identified? Defend your choices.

How would you devise a work flow to ensure that the specimen was correctly identified and the laboratory workers safely and efficiently worked with the specimen collected?