Investigation of Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax, United States, 2001: Epidemiologic Findings

In October 2001, the first inhalational anthrax case in the United States since 1976 was identified in a media company worker in Florida. A national investigation was initiated to identify additional cases and determine possible exposures to Bacillus anthracis. Surveillance was enhanced through heal...

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Main Authors: Daniel B. Jernigan, Pratima L. Raghunathan, Beth P. Bell, Ross Brechner, Eddy A. Bresnitz, Jay C. Butler, Marty Cetron, Mitch Cohen, Timothy Doyle, Marc Fischer, Carolyn M. Greene, Kevin S. Griffith, Jeannette Guarner, James L. Hadler, James A. Hayslett, Richard Meyer, Lyle R. Petersen, Michael Phillips, Robert W. Pinner, Tanja Popovic, Conrad P. Quinn, Jennita Reefhuis, Dori Reissman, Nancy Rosenstein, Anne Schuchat, Wun-Ju Shieh, Larry Siegal, David L. Swerdlow, Fred C. Tenover, Marc Traeger, John W. Ward, Isaac Weisfuse, Steven Wiersma, Kevin Yeskey, Sherif Zaki, David A. Ashford, Bradley A. Perkins, Steve Ostroff, James M. Hughes, David Fleming, Jeffrey P. Koplan, Julie L. Gerberding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2002-10-01
Series:Emerging Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/8/10/02-0353_article
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author Daniel B. Jernigan
Pratima L. Raghunathan
Beth P. Bell
Ross Brechner
Eddy A. Bresnitz
Jay C. Butler
Marty Cetron
Mitch Cohen
Timothy Doyle
Marc Fischer
Carolyn M. Greene
Kevin S. Griffith
Jeannette Guarner
James L. Hadler
James A. Hayslett
Richard Meyer
Lyle R. Petersen
Michael Phillips
Robert W. Pinner
Tanja Popovic
Conrad P. Quinn
Jennita Reefhuis
Dori Reissman
Nancy Rosenstein
Anne Schuchat
Wun-Ju Shieh
Larry Siegal
David L. Swerdlow
Fred C. Tenover
Marc Traeger
John W. Ward
Isaac Weisfuse
Steven Wiersma
Kevin Yeskey
Sherif Zaki
David A. Ashford
Bradley A. Perkins
Steve Ostroff
James M. Hughes
David Fleming
Jeffrey P. Koplan
Julie L. Gerberding
author_facet Daniel B. Jernigan
Pratima L. Raghunathan
Beth P. Bell
Ross Brechner
Eddy A. Bresnitz
Jay C. Butler
Marty Cetron
Mitch Cohen
Timothy Doyle
Marc Fischer
Carolyn M. Greene
Kevin S. Griffith
Jeannette Guarner
James L. Hadler
James A. Hayslett
Richard Meyer
Lyle R. Petersen
Michael Phillips
Robert W. Pinner
Tanja Popovic
Conrad P. Quinn
Jennita Reefhuis
Dori Reissman
Nancy Rosenstein
Anne Schuchat
Wun-Ju Shieh
Larry Siegal
David L. Swerdlow
Fred C. Tenover
Marc Traeger
John W. Ward
Isaac Weisfuse
Steven Wiersma
Kevin Yeskey
Sherif Zaki
David A. Ashford
Bradley A. Perkins
Steve Ostroff
James M. Hughes
David Fleming
Jeffrey P. Koplan
Julie L. Gerberding
author_sort Daniel B. Jernigan
collection DOAJ
description In October 2001, the first inhalational anthrax case in the United States since 1976 was identified in a media company worker in Florida. A national investigation was initiated to identify additional cases and determine possible exposures to Bacillus anthracis. Surveillance was enhanced through health-care facilities, laboratories, and other means to identify cases, which were defined as clinically compatible illness with laboratory-confirmed B. anthracis infection. From October 4 to November 20, 2001, 22 cases of anthrax (11 inhalational, 11 cutaneous) were identified; 5 of the inhalational cases were fatal. Twenty (91%) case-patients were either mail handlers or were exposed to worksites where contaminated mail was processed or received. B. anthracis isolates from four powder-containing envelopes, 17 specimens from patients, and 106 environmental samples were indistinguishable by molecular subtyping. Illness and death occurred not only at targeted worksites, but also along the path of mail and in other settings. Continued vigilance for cases is needed among health-care providers and members of the public health and law enforcement communities.
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spelling doaj.art-b77db947c85647078badcf32ad4d14d62022-12-22T02:29:25ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-60592002-10-018101019102810.3201/eid0810.020353Investigation of Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax, United States, 2001: Epidemiologic FindingsDaniel B. JerniganPratima L. RaghunathanBeth P. BellRoss BrechnerEddy A. BresnitzJay C. ButlerMarty CetronMitch CohenTimothy DoyleMarc FischerCarolyn M. GreeneKevin S. GriffithJeannette GuarnerJames L. HadlerJames A. HayslettRichard MeyerLyle R. PetersenMichael PhillipsRobert W. PinnerTanja PopovicConrad P. QuinnJennita ReefhuisDori ReissmanNancy RosensteinAnne SchuchatWun-Ju ShiehLarry SiegalDavid L. SwerdlowFred C. TenoverMarc TraegerJohn W. WardIsaac WeisfuseSteven WiersmaKevin YeskeySherif ZakiDavid A. AshfordBradley A. PerkinsSteve OstroffJames M. HughesDavid FlemingJeffrey P. KoplanJulie L. GerberdingIn October 2001, the first inhalational anthrax case in the United States since 1976 was identified in a media company worker in Florida. A national investigation was initiated to identify additional cases and determine possible exposures to Bacillus anthracis. Surveillance was enhanced through health-care facilities, laboratories, and other means to identify cases, which were defined as clinically compatible illness with laboratory-confirmed B. anthracis infection. From October 4 to November 20, 2001, 22 cases of anthrax (11 inhalational, 11 cutaneous) were identified; 5 of the inhalational cases were fatal. Twenty (91%) case-patients were either mail handlers or were exposed to worksites where contaminated mail was processed or received. B. anthracis isolates from four powder-containing envelopes, 17 specimens from patients, and 106 environmental samples were indistinguishable by molecular subtyping. Illness and death occurred not only at targeted worksites, but also along the path of mail and in other settings. Continued vigilance for cases is needed among health-care providers and members of the public health and law enforcement communities.https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/8/10/02-0353_articleUnited States
spellingShingle Daniel B. Jernigan
Pratima L. Raghunathan
Beth P. Bell
Ross Brechner
Eddy A. Bresnitz
Jay C. Butler
Marty Cetron
Mitch Cohen
Timothy Doyle
Marc Fischer
Carolyn M. Greene
Kevin S. Griffith
Jeannette Guarner
James L. Hadler
James A. Hayslett
Richard Meyer
Lyle R. Petersen
Michael Phillips
Robert W. Pinner
Tanja Popovic
Conrad P. Quinn
Jennita Reefhuis
Dori Reissman
Nancy Rosenstein
Anne Schuchat
Wun-Ju Shieh
Larry Siegal
David L. Swerdlow
Fred C. Tenover
Marc Traeger
John W. Ward
Isaac Weisfuse
Steven Wiersma
Kevin Yeskey
Sherif Zaki
David A. Ashford
Bradley A. Perkins
Steve Ostroff
James M. Hughes
David Fleming
Jeffrey P. Koplan
Julie L. Gerberding
Investigation of Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax, United States, 2001: Epidemiologic Findings
Emerging Infectious Diseases
United States
title Investigation of Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax, United States, 2001: Epidemiologic Findings
title_full Investigation of Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax, United States, 2001: Epidemiologic Findings
title_fullStr Investigation of Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax, United States, 2001: Epidemiologic Findings
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax, United States, 2001: Epidemiologic Findings
title_short Investigation of Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax, United States, 2001: Epidemiologic Findings
title_sort investigation of bioterrorism related anthrax united states 2001 epidemiologic findings
topic United States
url https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/8/10/02-0353_article
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