A Publication by the Bureau of Epidemiology
October 25, 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, |
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In this issue:
1. CDC Interim Recommendations for Protecting Mail Handlers from Anthrax & Recommendations for US Postal Workers and Mail Handlers Who May Have Been Exposed to Anthrax
2. MMWR Update: Investigation of Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax and Interim Guidelines for Exposure Management and Antimicrobial Therapy, October 2001 (CDC) (.pdf)
"The following CDC MMWR article can be downloaded in it’s entirety at the website address attached below".
Excerpt from the CDC MMWR, October 26, 2001
Since October 3, 2001, CDC and state and local public health authorities have been investigating cases of bioterrorism-related anthrax. This report updates previous findings, provides new information on case investigations in two additional areas, presents the susceptibility patterns of Bacillus anthracis isolates, and provides interim recommendations for managing potential threats and exposures and for treating anthrax. As of October 24, investigations in the District of Columbia (DC), Florida, New Jersey, New York City (NYC), Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia have identified 15 (11 confirmed and four suspected) cases of anthrax according to the CDC surveillance case definition ( 1). Seven of the 15 cases were inhalational anthrax and eight were cutaneous. Of the seven inhalational cases, five occurred in postal workers in New Jersey and DC, and one in a person who sorted and distributed mail at a media company in Florida. Two letters mailed to two different recipients in NYC and one letter mailed to a recipient in DC are known to have contained B. anthracis spores. Six cases were identified in employees of media companies; one was a 7-month-old infant who visited a media company; and eight cases are consistent with exposures along the postal route of letters known to be contaminated with B. anthracis spores in New Jersey and DC. Using molecular typing, analysis of B. anthracis isolates from cases in Florida, NYC, and DC indicated that the isolates are indistinguishable ( 2). Epidemiologic investigations and surveillance in other locations are continuing; no additional cases have been identified.
MMWR October 26, 2001 / Vol. 50 / No. 42
OR
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5042a1.htm