Official CDC Health Update

posted 10/05/01

This is an official CDC Health Update Distributed via Health Alert Network

Public Health Message Regarding Anthrax Case

Released on October 4, 2001

The Florida State Department of Health and the CDC are investigating a

case of anthrax in a 63-year-old male Florida resident. The diagnosis is

confirmed by CDC's laboratory. So far this appears to be an isolated case.

Anthrax is not contagious. The illness is not transmitted person to person.

Sporadic cases of anthrax do occur in the United States, so a single case is

not an indication of an outbreak. The last case of anthrax reported in the

United States was earlier this year in Texas.

The rapid identification of this single case is the result of the heightened

level of disease monitoring being done by the public health and medical

community. This is the disease monitoring system in action.

Right now, there is no suggestion of other possible cases, but we are

aggressively checking to see if other people are similarly ill.

The Florida State Health Department and a team from CDC are

aggressively investigating the source of infection. They are reconstructing

the patient's schedule for the last few weeks to attempt to determine the

location where the patient may have been exposed.

A team of CDC epidemiologists were sent to Florida to look for any

indications of exposure to this disease. Medical teams and supplies are

prepared to be moved quickly if needed.

CDC and state health officials are alerting health care providers to look for

unusual cases of respiratory disease. Although anthrax starts out with flu-like

symptoms, it rapidly progresses to severe illnesses, including

pneumonia and meningitis.

If anyone has been exposed, antibiotics are the appropriate preventive

treatment. CDC has an emergency supply of antibiotics readily available

for distribution. If the investigation of the cause of this illness indicated.that you need antibiotics,

your state and local health department will notify

you and your physician and will assure you receive the drugs.

Based on what we know right now, there is no need for people to take any

extraordinary actions or steps. They should not go to a doctor or hospital

unless they are sick. They should not buy and horde medicines or

antibiotics. They should not buy gas masks.

The public needs to understand that our public health system is on a

heightened sense of alert for any diseases that may come from a biological

attack. So we may have more reports of what may appear to be isolated

cases. We're going to respond more aggressively to these cases than in the

past.

Contact: CDC Press Office(404) 639-3286