Update: Anthrax Investigations,
Florida and New York
October 16, 2001
Florida
The Palm Beach Count Control and Prevention have confirmed that the
73-year-old male employee of American Media Inc., hospitalized since the
beginning of October, has been diagnosed as a probable case of
anthrax disease. The diagnosis cannot be confirmed according to the
strictest diagnostic criteria (requires isolation of the bacteria from a
clinical specimen such as blood, lung samples, or spinal fluid). However,
the overall picture of clinical symptoms combined with positive results on
laboratory tests suggest to y Health Department, Florida Department of
Health, and the Centers for Disease health officials that this individual
has anthrax disease.
Also, a minuscule amount of anthrax spores has been found in a small,
non-public mail processing area of the Boca Raton Main post office. There
is no indication that these spores pose a health risk to workers or
visitors. As an extraordinary precaution, health officials are asking
employees to leave this small portion of the building. The affected area
will be cleaned tonight — after the post office closes. The post
office will be open again for business in the morning.
In Florida, there are 2 cases of anthrax and 1 exposure.
For more information on this investigation, contact the Palm Beach
County Health Department, (561) 712–6488/6400.
New York
Preliminary tests indicate cutaneous (skin) anthrax disease in an
infant. The child’s mother, an ABC employee, took the child with her to
the ABC building on West 66th Street in Manhattan on September 28. While
it is not certain that the child came into contact with anthrax bacteria
at the ABC building, it is currently the focus of the investigation. The
child was started on a course of antibiotics and is doing well. The New
York City Health Department is not aware of any other individuals with
symptoms of cutaneous anthrax who work in, or visited, the ABC building.
The infant’s doctor notified the Health Department on October 12 that
the symptoms might be suggestive of a cutaneous anthrax infection. On
October 13, a skin biopsy was CDC for testing and the Health Department
received the results on October 15.
In New York, there are 2 cases of anthrax and 3 exposures.
For more information on this investigation, contact the New City Health
Department, (212) 295-5335 or online at: www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/home.html
Washington
CDC and health officials in the District of Columbia are conducting an
public health investigation related to possible anthrax exposure on
Capitol Hill. CDC has sent a team of investigators to assist with the
investigation.
Nationally
There are numerous reports of potential anthrax cases throughout the
United States. The initial assessment of these incidents is made at the
state level. CDC is providing technical assistance to the states on "How
to handle anthrax and other biological agent threats."
Facts about Anthrax
Cutaneous anthrax accounts for 95 percent of the cases. It is
acquired through a cut or scab in the skin. The first sign is an itchy
bump that looks like an insect bite. Within one to two days, the bump
turns into a 1-3 centimeter blister, eventually covered by a black scab
(hence the name anthrax, which is Greek for coal). Nearby lymph glands may
also swell. The disease produces headaches, muscle aches, fever, nausea,
and vomiting. If left untreated, cutaneous anthrax is fatal in 20 percent
of the cases.
Inhalation anthrax is the most serious and rare form of human
anthrax. It occurs when a person breathes anthrax spores that are in the
air. Initial symptoms may resemble a common cold. After several days, the
symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. If left
untreated, inhalation anthrax is usually fatal.
Gastrointestinal anthrax stems from eating contaminated meat. It is
characterized by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract. Initial
symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and fever, followed
by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. If left
untreated, gastrointestinal anthrax is fatal in 25 to 60 percent of cases.
Antibiotics are an effective treatment if the disease is diagnosed
early on; but anthrax can be fatal if left untreated. The effective
antibiotics are penicillin, doxycycline, ciproflaxin, and fluoroquinolones.
The anthrax vaccine is only available to the military and is not
recommended for the general public.
Anthrax is NOT contagious. Because the bacteria do not produce
spores while they are growing in an infected person, anthrax cannot be
transmitted from person to person. Therefore, there is no need to treat or
vaccinate contacts of persons ill with anthrax, such as relatives,
friends, or coworkers, unless they were also exposed to the same source of
infection.
Surveillance
During this heightened surveillance, cases of illness that in any way
resemble symptoms of anthrax will be thoroughly reviewed until anthrax can
be ruled out. To protect the privacy of patients, CDC will not discuss
specifics of suspect cases. If a case of anthrax is confirmed, CDC will
immediately work with state and local health officials to report this case
to the public and to describe any actions that should be taken by the
medical community or the public.
As we have cautioned, the public needs to understand that we have put
the public health and medical community on a heightened level of disease
monitoring. So there may be more reports of suspect cases. We are going to
respond more aggressively to these cases than in the past. This is the
disease monitoring system in action. The system is working.
If anyone has been exposed, antibiotics are the appropriate preventive
treatment. CDC has an emergency supply of antibiotics readily available
for distribution. If the investigation of the cause of this illness
indicated that people need antibiotics, state and local health departments
will notify the public and physicians and will assure those who need drugs
will receive them.
For the latest update on CDC activities and on-going anthrax
investigations visit www.bt.cdc.gov/ or www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/
For information about how to handle suspicious mail, see the US
Postal Service website at: www.usps.com/news/2001/press/pr01_1010tips.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Email: garson@hiwaay.net
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