Isolated case of bioterrorism-related inhalational anthrax, New York City, 2001.
On October 31, 2001, in New York City, a 61-year-old female hospital employee who had acquired inhalational anthrax died after a 6-day illness. To determine sources of exposure and identify additional persons at risk, the New York City Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and law enforcement authorities conducted an extensive investigation, which included interviewing contacts, examining personal effects, summarizing patient's use of mass transit, conducting active case finding and surveillance near her residence and at her workplace, and collecting samples from co-workers and the environment. We cultured all specimens for Bacillus anthracis. We found no additional cases of cutaneous or inhalational anthrax. The route of exposure remains unknown. All environmental samples were negative for B. anthracis. This first case of inhalational anthrax during the 2001 outbreak with no apparent direct link to contaminated mail emphasizes the need for close coordination between public health and law enforcement agencies during bioterrorism-related investigations.
Holtz
Timothy H
TH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. tkh3@cdc.gov
Ackelsberg
Joel
J
Kool
Jacob L
JL
Rosselli
Richard
R
Marfin
Anthony
A
Matte
Thomas
T
Beatrice
Sara T
ST
Heller
Michael B
MB
Hewett
Dan
D
Moskin
Linda C
LC
Bunning
Michel L
ML
Layton
Marcelle
M
D000881:Anthrax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D023482:Bioterrorism; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011177:Postal Service; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014930:Women
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D002939:Ciprofloxacin