학술논문
First Case of Bioterrorism-Related Inhalational Anthrax in the United States, Palm Beach County, Florida, 2001
Document Type
article
Author
Marc S. Traeger; Steven T. Wiersma; Nancy E. Rosenstein; Jean M. Malecki; Colin W. Shepard; Pratima L. Raghunathan; Segaran P. Pillai; Tanja Popovic; Conrad P. Quinn; Richard F. Meyer; Sharif R. Zaki; Savita Kumar; Sherrie M. Bruce; James J. Sejvar; Peter M. Dull; Bruce C. Tierney; Joshua D. Jones; Bradley A. Perkins
Source
Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol 8, Iss 10, Pp 1029-1034 (2002)
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
1080-6040
1080-6059
1080-6059
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.