Anthrax:  What We Need To Know!

Cutaneous anthrax currently accounts for 95 percent of the cases of anthrax. It is acquired through a cut or scab in the skin. The first sign is an itchy bump that looks like an insect bite. Within one to two days, the bump turns into a 1-3 centimeter blister, eventually covered by a black scab (hence the name anthrax, which is Greek for coal). Nearby lymph glands may also swell. The disease produces headaches, muscle aches, fever, nausea, and vomiting. If left untreated, cutaneous anthrax is fatal in 20 percent of the cases.

Inhalation anthrax is the most serious and rare form of human anthrax. It occurs when a person breathes anthrax spores that are in the air. Initial symptoms may resemble a common cold. After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. If left untreated, inhalation anthrax is usually fatal.

Gastrointestinal anthrax stems from eating contaminated meat. It is characterized by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract. Initial symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and fever, followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. If left untreated, gastrointestinal anthrax is fatal in 25 to 60 percent of cases.

What Can We Do If We Are Exposed?

Anthrax can be fatal if left untreated. Antibiotics are an effective treatment if the disease is diagnosed early. The effective antibiotics are penicillin, doxycycline, ciproflaxin, and fluoroquinolones. The anthrax vaccine is only readily available to the military and is not recommended for the general public.  Some people are trying to use the animal version of anthrax; this can prove to be very dangerous.  If you think that you may have been exposed to the anthrax virus, you should contact your local health officials immediately. 

Anthrax is NOT contagious. The Anthrax bacteria does not produce spores while growing within an infected person, thus it cannot be transmitted from person to person. People who come into contact with an infected person are not at risk.  There is no need to treat or vaccinate contacts of persons ill with anthrax, such as relatives, friends, or coworkers, unless they were also exposed to the same source of infection.

There are currently many cases that are being examined at the present time.  There is one known death from the anthrax virus.

 Precautions We Should Consider Taking in the Wake of Recent events: 

 HOW TO HANDLE ANTHRAX AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL AGENT THREATS

many facilities in communities around the country have received anthrax threat letters.  Most were empty envelopes; some have contained powdery substances.  The purpose of these guidelines is to recommend procedures for handling such incidents.

DO NOT PANIC

1.       Anthrax organisms can cause infection in the skin, gastrointestinal system, or the lungs.  To do, so the organism must be rubbed into abraded skin, swallowed, or inhaled as a fine, aerosolized mist.  Disease can be prevented after exposure to the anthrax spores by early treatment with the appropriate antibiotics.  Anthrax is not spread from one person to another person.

2.       For anthrax to be effective as a covert agent, it must be aerosolized into very small particles.  This is difficult to do, and requires a great deal of technical skill and special equipment.  If these small particles are inhaled, life-threatening lung infection can occur, but prompt recognition and treatment are effective.

suspicious Unopened letter or PACKAGE MARKED WITH THREATENING MESSAGE SUCH AS “ANTHRAX”:

1.   Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package.

2.   PLACE the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container to prevent leakage of contents.

3.   If you do not have any container, then COVER the envelope or package with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this cover.

4.   Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).

5.   WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.

6.   What to do next…

·          If you are at HOME, then report the incident to local police.

·          If you are at WORK, then report the incident to local police, and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.

7.   LIST all people who were in the room or area when this suspicious letter or package was recognized. Give this list to both the local public health authorities and law enforcement officials for follow-up investigations and advice. 

Envelope with powder and powder spills out onto surface:

1.   DO NOT try to CLEAN UP the powder.  COVER the spilled contents immediately with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this cover!

2.   Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).

3.   WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.

4.   What to do next…

·          If you are at HOME, then report the incident to local police.

·          If you are at WORK, then report the incident to local police, and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.

5.  REMOVE heavily contaminated clothing as soon as possible and place in a plastic bag, or some other container that can be sealed.  This clothing bag should be given to the emergency responders for proper handling.

6.   SHOWER with soap and water as soon as possible.  Do Not Use Bleach Or Other Disinfectant On Your Skin.

7.   If possible, list all people who were in the room or area, especially those who had actual contact with the powder. Give this list to both the local public health authorities so that proper instructions can be given for medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials for further investigation.

QUESTION OF ROOM CONTAMINATION BY AEROSOLIZATION:

For example: small device triggered, warning that air-handling system is contaminated, or warning that a biological agent released in a public space.

1.   Turn off local fans or ventilation units in the area.

2.   LEAVE area immediately.

3.   CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).

4.   What to do next…

-     If you are at HOME, then dial “911” to report the incident to local police and the local FBI field office.

-     If you are at WORK, then dial “911” to report the incident to local police and the local FBI field office, and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.

5.   SHUT down air handling system in the building, if possible.

6.   If possible, list all people who were in the room or area. Give this list to both the local public health authorities so that proper instructions can be given for medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials for further investigation.

HOW TO IDENTIFY SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES AND LETTERS

 Some characteristics of suspicious packages and letters include the following…

1.  ·          Excessive postage

·          Handwritten or poorly typed addresses

·          Incorrect titles

·          Title, but no name

·          Misspellings of common words

·          Oily stains, discolorations or odor

·          No return address

·          Excessive weight

·          Lopsided or uneven envelope

·          Protruding wires or aluminum foil

·          Excessive security material such as masking tape, string, etc.

·          Visual distractions

·          Ticking sound

·          Marked with restrictive endorsements, such as “Personal” or “Confidential”

·          Shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address

To keep abreast of  the latest information available from the Center of Disease Control, please visit their official website:  http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/

 We thank them for this information and allowing us to use it in this issue of FAVOC Magazine.