Wednesday, November 21, 2001, 21:05 EST (9:05 PM EST)
CDCHAN-00058-2001-11-21-UPD-N
Connecticut Inhalation Anthrax Case Confirmed
CDC has confirmed a case of inhalational
anthrax in
The investigation in Connecticut is in progress but no source or mechanism of exposure has been identified. Persons in the local post office as well as the Wallingford mail processing facility have been advised to initiate prophylactic antimicrobial treatment. Additional persons who have visited the patient's home in the past 30 days also have been advised to initiate treatment. As the epidemiologic and environmental investigation proceeds, updated treatment recommendations will be made.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health is conducting active surveillance to identify additional cases suspicious for anthrax. Environmental assessment of the Seymour Post Office and the Wallingford Post Office is in progress. In addition, thorough environmental assessments of her home and places she might have visited are underway. CDC, FBI, and US Postal Service personnel are collaborating with the Connecticut Department of Health in these investigations.
Persons who identify cases of illness suspicious for anthrax are reminded to contact their local health department. The CDC Emergency Operations Response Center can be reached at 770 488 7100.
Summary of Local, State, and Federal Confirmed Human Anthrax Cases and Exposures
|
Case Status |
Florida |
New York City |
New Jersey |
Washington, DC |
Connecticut |
Total |
|
Confirmed |
2 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
18 |
|
Cutaneous |
0 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Inhalational |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Suspect |
0 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
|
5 |
|
Cutaneous |
0 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
|
Inhalational |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
As a reminder, CDC confirmed cases are based on a rigorous case definition which was published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on October 19, 2001. The MMWR is available on-line at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5041a1.htm.
CDC defines a confirmed case of anthrax as 1) a clinically compatible case of cutaneous, inhalational, or gastrointestinal illness that is laboratory confirmed by isolation of B. anthracis from an affected tissue or site or 2) other laboratory evidence of B. anthracis infection based on at least two supportive laboratory tests. CDC defines a suspect case as 1) a clinically compatible case of illness without isolation of B. anthracis and no alternative diagnosis, but with laboratory evidence of B. anthracis by one supportive laboratory test or 2) a clinically compatible case of anthrax epidemiologically linked to a confirmed environmental exposure, but without corroborative laboratory evidence of B. anthracis infection.
For the latest update on CDC activities and on-going anthrax investigations visit
www.bt.cdc.gov or www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media
HAN Message Types
- Health Alert: Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention. Example: HAN00001
- Health Advisory: Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action. Example: HAN00316
- Health Update: Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action. Example: HAN00309
- Info Service: Provides general information that is not necessarily considered to be of an emergent nature. Example: HAN00319
## This Message was distributed to State and Local Health Officers, Public Information Officers, Epidemiologists and HAN Coordinators as well as Clinician organizations ##
You have received this message based upon the information contained within our emergency notification database. If you have a different or additional e-mail or fax address that you would like us to use, please contact your State-based Health Alert Network program at your State or local health department.
- Content source: CDC Emergency Risk Communication Branch (ERCB), Division of Emergency Operations (DEO), Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR)
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