A Publication by the Bureau of Epidemiology
October 18, 2001
"The reason for collecting, analyzing and disseminating information on a disease is to control that disease. Collection and analysis should not be allowed to consume resources if action does not follow."
--Foege WH et al. Int. J of Epidemiology 1976; 5:29-37.
Steven T. Wiersma, MD, MPH—Bureau Chief and State Epidemiologist
Don Ward, Surveillance Section Administrator, Epi Update Managing Editor
Samuel Crane, MPH, Special Projects Surveillance Coordinator, Epi Update Editor
Bureau of Epidemiology Frequent Contributors:
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Kathryn Snavely, MPH Reportable Disease Manager |
Jodi Baldy, MPH, Biological Scientist IV |
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Ursula E. Bauer, PhD, Chronic Disease Epidemiologist |
Lisa Conti, DVM, MPH, State Public Health Veterinarian |
Regional Epidemiologists:
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Dolly Katz, PhD, MPH, SE Florida |
Roger Sanderson, RN, MA, SW Florida |
Carina Blackmore, MS Vet. Med., PhD, NE Florida |
Zuber Mulla, PhD MSPH, Central Florida Carina Blackmore, MS Vet. Med., PhD, |
Please print out this material and share with epidemiology staff, county health department directors, administrators, medical directors, nursing directors, environmental health directors and others with an interest in information of this type. Thank you.
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The Department of Health has a home on the World Wide Web at http://www.doh.state.fl.us
For information on diseases and conditions of public health importance go to MyFlorida.com, click on Health and Human Services, then Consumers--Diseases and Conditions.
In this issue: Health Alert !!
1. Recommendations for visitors or employees who were in the Hart Senate building on October 15, 2001.
CDC Health Alert
Distributed Via CDC Health Alert Network
October 18, 2001
People who were on the 5th or 6th floor, SE wing, of the Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. between 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM on October 15, 2001, should receive 60 days of prophylaxis for possible anthrax exposure because it is believed that these individuals were potentially exposed to the bacteria. These individuals should not be given nasal swabs as a preliminary test for exposure to anthrax. Nasal swabs are primarily being used for epidemiological investigation, not for individual diagnosis, prophylaxis, or treatment.
The Capitol Physicians Office has offered to provide the appropriate drug for anyone (staff or visitor) who was in this area on October 15, 2001, during the specified time. The D.C. Department of Health has set up a call center at (202 442-9196) for treatment information as well as general inquiries. These guidelines may change over the next few days and we will update them as needed based on continuing results. Individuals who were in the specified area of the Hart Senate Building on October 15, 2001 between 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and are presently in another state/county should contact their state/county health department or CDC for information on treatment.
Studies are ongoing in the capital area to assess whether additional people will need prophylaxis. At the current time there is no indication that additional people who visited other areas of the Hart Senate Building or the capital need to be on prophylaxis or to have nasal swabs.