Citation

Traeger MS, Wiersma ST, Rosenstein NE, Malecki JM, Shepard CW, Raghunathan PL, Pillai SP, Popovic T, Quinn CP, Meyer RF, Zaki SR, Kumar S, Bruce SM, Sejvar JJ, Dull PM, Tierney BC, Jones JD, Perkins BA. Emerg. Infect. Dis. 2002; 8(10): 1029-1034.

Affiliation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. Marc.Traeger@mail.ihs.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12396910

PMCID

PMC2730309

Abstract

On October 4, 2001, we confirmed the first bioterrorism-related anthrax case identified in the United States in a resident of Palm Beach County, Florida. Epidemiologic investigation indicated that exposure occurred at the workplace through intentionally contaminated mail. One additional case of inhalational anthrax was identified from the index patient's workplace. Among 1,076 nasal cultures performed to assess exposure, Bacillus anthracis was isolated from a co-worker later confirmed as being infected, as well as from an asymptomatic mail-handler in the same workplace. Environmental cultures for B. anthracis showed contamination at the workplace and six county postal facilities. Environmental and nasal swab cultures were useful epidemiologic tools that helped direct the investigation towards the infection source and transmission vehicle. We identified 1,114 persons at risk and offered antimicrobial prophylaxis.

Language: en