|
Anthrax
This is an official CDC
Health Advisory
Distributed
via Health Alert Network
November 7, 2003, 00:40 EDT (12:40 AM EDT)
CDCHAN-00162-03-11-07-ADV-N=
A routine air-sampling sensor in the
Anacostia-Naval Postal Sorting Facility recorded a positive screening
signal for Bacillus anthracis,
the agent of anthrax. These results are considered
preliminary and additional testing is underway to clarify these
results and determine whether the initial test was accurate.
This mail handling facility is located on the grounds of the Anacostia
Naval Station in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area.
Clinicians are urged to review
the signs and symptoms of anthrax and consider the diagnosis with
their patients.
Inhalational anthrax starts with a nonspecific prodrome (i.e., fever,
dyspnea, cough, and chest discomfort) follows inhalation of infectious
spores. Approximately 2--4 days after initial symptoms, sometimes
after a brief period of improvement, respiratory failure and hemodynamic
collapse ensue. Inhalational anthrax also might include thoracic
edema and a widened mediastinum on chest radiograph. Gram-positive
bacilli can grow on blood culture, usually 2--3 days after onset
of illness.
Cutaneous anthrax follows deposition of the organism onto the skin,
occurring particularly on exposed areas of the hands, arms, or face.
An area of local edema becomes a pruritic macule or papule, which
enlarges and ulcerates after 1--2 days. Small, 1--3 mm vesicles
may surround the ulcer. A painless, depressed, black eschar usually
with surrounding local edema subsequently develops. The syndrome
also may include lymphangitis and painful lymphadenopathy.
Clinicians are encouraged to
review the additional information on Anthrax at: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/index.asp
Any suspected cases of
anthrax should be immediately reported to the appropriate local
or state health department.
Categories
of Health Alert messages:
Health
Alert:
conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action
or attention.
Health
Advisory:
provides important information for a specific incident or situation;
may not require immediate action.
Health
Update:
provides updated information regarding an incident or situation;
unlikely to require immediate action.
The
Health Alert Network (HAN)
|
