Opening a Bacillus antracis-Containing Envelope, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: The Public Health Response

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Emerg Infect Dis
• Personal Author:
  Hsu, Vincent P. ; Lukacs, Susan L. ; Handzel, Thomas ; Hayslett, James ; Harper, Scott ; Hales, Thomas ; Semenova, Vera A. ; Romero-Steiner, Sandra ; Elie, Cheryl ; Quinn, Conrad P. ; Khabbaz, Rima ; Khan, Ali S. ; Martin, Gregory ; Eisold, John ; Schuchat, Anne ; Hajjeh, Rana A.
• Description:
  On October 15, 2001, a U.S. Senate staff member opened an envelope containing Bacillus anthracis spores. Chemoprophylaxis was promptly initiated and nasal swabs obtained for all persons in the immediate area. An epidemiologic investigation was conducted to define exposure areas and identify persons who should receive prolonged chemoprophylaxis, based on their exposure risk. Persons immediately exposed to B. anthracis spores were interviewed; records were reviewed to identify additional persons in this area. Persons with positive nasal swabs had repeat swabs and serial serologic evaluation to measure antibodies to B. anthracis protective antigen (anti-PA). A total of 625 persons were identified as requiring prolonged chemoprophylaxis; 28 had positive nasal swabs. Repeat nasal swabs were negative at 7 days; none had developed anti-PA antibodies by 42 days after exposure. Early nasal swab testing is a useful epidemiologic tool to assess risk of exposure to aerosolized B. anthracis. Early, wide chemoprophylaxis may have averted an outbreak of anthrax in this population.
• Subjects:
  Anthrax Antibiotic Prophylaxis Bacillus Anthracis Bioterrorism Environmental Exposure Equipment Contamination Humans Inhalation Exposure Nasal Mucosa Nose Public Health Respiratory System Risk Factors Workplace

  More +
• Source:
  Emerg Infect Dis. 8(10):1039-1043.
• Pubmed ID:
  12396912
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC2730304
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  Global Health Center
• Topic:
  Diseases & Conditions
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  5 pdf pages
• Volume:
  8
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20033723
• Collection(s):
  Emerging Infectious Diseases National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6a5d98bf3ba3b096065a74c38ac387be308d0fa2b548c4d1a9484ce6b08fe5e5ae4badbd6017f82097fc28a24f8a1869b93867c878b5c4dad1bc5a622a57e312
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/3103/cdc_3103_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 220.11 KB ]