Anthrax - Knowledge is Power
The threat of contracting anthrax is extremely remote. But, according to news reports, anthrax fears have brought out pranksters (idiots!), and fearmongers who are sending substances like vanilla pudding through the mail to targets in an attempt to strike terror in the hearts of recipients. The FBI received 2,300 reports of
suspected anthrax attacks between October 1 and October 16. All but a handful have been either hoaxes or false alarms. Nonetheless, with the recent confirmed cases of anthrax contamination, it is prudent to combat fear with facts. The links we feature below will help you understand what anthrax is, what the symptoms are when a person contracts any one of the three forms of anthrax, and how to deal with it.
As the CDC notes, in order for anthrax to be effective as a covert agent, it must be aersolized into very small particles. This is difficult to do, and requires a great deal of technical skill and special equipment. In the wake of a deluge of false alarms, law enforcement personnel are urging the public to carefully walk the fine line between prudence and panic. Try to "rule out the obvious" before you call law enforcement authorities.
A threat is made by telephone or other means, but no package is discovered
An unopened letter or package is discovered that claims to contain anthrax
A package is opened that claims to contain anthrax, but no suspicious material is included
A package or letter is opened that claims to contain anthrax, and a suspicious substance is found.
Consult the resources below. Additionally, if you know of any online sources for helpful guidance, please email them to us at mbguard@bankersonline.com so we may add them to this list.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (in 2001 -- Check the CDC website for the most current guidance):
"FBI has jurisdiction for bioterrorism response but recognizes the need to conduct epidemiologic
investigations, define at-risk groups, and rapidly implement potentially life-saving medical and public health responses.
When bioterrorism alleging use of anthrax or other agents occur, the local emergency response system should be activated by
dialing 911 in most communities; in communities without 911 systems, local law enforcement authorities should be notified.
The local FBI field office and local and state public health authorities also should be notified.
"FBI will coordinate the collection of evidence (e.g., letters, packages, or air-handling system samples) and deliver materials
to an FBI or U.S. Department of Defense laboratory for testing. To guide decision-making, test results identifying B.
anthracis should be available as soon as possible, at least within 24-48 hours. Efforts are under way to assess and enhance
the capabilities of state and local health department laboratories to fulfill the need for rapid analysis. Planning for laboratory
testing should be part of bioterrorism preparedness by state and local public health, law enforcement, and first responder
authorities in consultation with federal officials.
"Public health officials, working with law enforcement and first response personnel, should determine the need for
decontamination and postexposure prophylaxis. In most of the recent hoaxes purporting anthrax exposure, immediate
postexposure decontamination and prophylaxis have not been indicated because of the lack of credibility of the threat. Public
health officials should collect contact information for potentially exposed persons for notification of laboratory results or
other follow-up. Potentially exposed persons should be given information about the signs and symptoms of illnesses
associated with the biologic agent and about whom to contact and where to go should they develop illness.
Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis
"Postexposure prophylaxis for exposure to B. anthracis consists of chemoprophylaxis and vaccination. Oral fluoroquinolones
are the drugs of choice for adults, including pregnant women (T.V. Inglesby, D.A. Henderson, J.G. Bartlett, et al., Working
Group for Civilian Biodefense, personal communication, 1998; 3) (Table_1). If fluoroquinolones are not available or are
contraindicated, doxycycline is acceptable. Children should receive prophylaxis with oral ciprofloxacin or oral doxycycline
(T.V. Inglesby, D.A. Henderson, J.G. Bartlett, et al., Working Group for Civilian Biodefense, personal communication,
1998; 3) (Table_1). Prophylaxis should continue until B. anthracis exposure has been excluded.
"Postexposure vaccination with an inactivated, cell-free anthrax vaccine (Bioport Corporation, formerly Michigan Biologic
Products Institute **) is indicated in conjunction with chemoprophylaxis following a proven biologic incident (T.V.
Inglesby, D.A. Henderson, J.G. Bartlett, et al., Working Group for Civilian Biodefense, personal communication, 1998; 4).
Postexposure vaccination consists of three injections: as soon as possible after exposure and at 2 and 4 weeks after
exposure. Anthrax vaccine can be requested through CDC. Although this vaccine is now being administered routinely to U.S.
military personnel, routine vaccination of civilian populations is not recommended. This vaccine has not been evaluated for
safety and efficacy in children aged less than 18 years or adults aged greater than 60 years.
"If decontamination is appropriate, persons should remove their clothing and personal effects, place all items in plastic bags,
and shower using copious quantities of soap and water (5). Plastic bags with personal effects should be labeled clearly with
the owner's name, contact telephone number, and inventory of the bag's contents. Personal items may be kept as evidence in a
criminal trial or returned to the owner if the threat is unsubstantiated. For incidents involving possibly contaminated letters,
the environment in direct contact with the letter or its contents should be decontaminated with a 0.5% hypochlorite solution
(i.e., one part household bleach to 10 parts water) following a crime scene investigation. Personal effects may be
decontaminated similarly.
"CDC and other offices in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are working with state and local health
departments, federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations to improve the public health capacity to address
bioterrorism and develop locality-specific response plans. CDC also can assist public health officials with decision-making
if a threat occurs alleging the use of a biologic agent."
Copyright, 2001, BankersOnline. All rights reserved.
First published on BankersOnline.com 10/10/01. Updated 10/23/08
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