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Opening a bacillus anthracis-containing envelope, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: the public health response.
Emerg Infect Dis. 2002 Oct; 8(10):1039-43.EI

Abstract

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.

Links

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Hsu VP
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. vhsu@cdc.gov
Lukacs SL
No affiliation info available
Handzel T
No affiliation info available
Hayslett J
No affiliation info available
Harper S
No affiliation info available
Hales T
No affiliation info available
Semenova VA
No affiliation info available
Romero-Steiner S
No affiliation info available
Elie C
No affiliation info available
Quinn CP
No affiliation info available
Khabbaz R
No affiliation info available
Khan AS
No affiliation info available
Martin G
No affiliation info available
Eisold J
No affiliation info available
Schuchat A
No affiliation info available
Hajjeh RA
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AnthraxAntibiotic ProphylaxisBacillus anthracisBioterrorismCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.District of ColumbiaEnvironmental ExposureEquipment ContaminationHumansInhalation ExposureNasal MucosaNasopharynxPublic HealthRisk FactorsUnited StatesWorkplace

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

12396912

Citation

Hsu, Vincent P., et al. "Opening a Bacillus Anthracis-containing Envelope, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: the Public Health Response." Emerging Infectious Diseases, vol. 8, no. 10, 2002, pp. 1039-43.
Hsu VP, Lukacs SL, Handzel T, et al. Opening a bacillus anthracis-containing envelope, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: the public health response. Emerg Infect Dis. 2002;8(10):1039-43.
Hsu, V. P., Lukacs, S. L., Handzel, T., Hayslett, J., Harper, S., Hales, T., Semenova, V. A., Romero-Steiner, S., Elie, C., Quinn, C. P., Khabbaz, R., Khan, A. S., Martin, G., Eisold, J., Schuchat, A., & Hajjeh, R. A. (2002). Opening a bacillus anthracis-containing envelope, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: the public health response. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 8(10), 1039-43.
Hsu VP, et al. Opening a Bacillus Anthracis-containing Envelope, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: the Public Health Response. Emerg Infect Dis. 2002;8(10):1039-43. PubMed PMID: 12396912.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Opening a bacillus anthracis-containing envelope, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: the public health response. AU - Hsu,Vincent P, AU - Lukacs,Susan L, AU - Handzel,Thomas, AU - Hayslett,James, AU - Harper,Scott, AU - Hales,Thomas, AU - Semenova,Vera A, AU - Romero-Steiner,Sandra, AU - Elie,Cheryl, AU - Quinn,Conrad P, AU - Khabbaz,Rima, AU - Khan,Ali S, AU - Martin,Gregory, AU - Eisold,John, AU - Schuchat,Anne, AU - Hajjeh,Rana A, PY - 2002/10/25/pubmed PY - 2002/12/28/medline PY - 2002/10/25/entrez SP - 1039 EP - 43 JF - Emerging infectious diseases JO - Emerg Infect Dis VL - 8 IS - 10 N2 - 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. SN - 1080-6040 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/12396912/Opening_a_bacillus_anthracis_containing_envelope_Capitol_Hill_Washington_D_C_:_the_public_health_response_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -