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Volume 8, Number 10—October 2002
THEME ISSUE
Bioterrorism-related Anthrax
Bioterrorism-related Anthrax

The Public Health Response and Epidemiologic Investigation Related to the Opening of a Bacillus anthracis–Containing Envelope, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

Vincent P. Hsu*Comments to Author , Susan L. Lukacs*, Thomas Handzel*, James Hayslett*, Scott Harper*, Thomas Hales*, Vera A. Semenova*, Sandra Romero-Steiner*, Cheryl Elie*, Conrad P. Quinn*, Rima Khabbaz*, Ali S. Khan*, Gregory Martin†, John Eisold‡, Anne Schuchat*, and Rana A. Hajjeh*
Author affiliations: *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; †National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; ‡Office of the Attending Physician, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., USA;

Main Article

Table 4

Recommendations for public health response to, and epidemiologic assessment of, the opening of an envelope suspected of containing Bacillus anthracis spores

Proper training on handling suspicious envelopes and packages
Use of personal protective equipment
Rapid identification of B. anthracis spore
Shutdown of ventilation system
Evacuation of immediate and surrounding area
Prompt administration of antimicrobial prophylaxis, in conjunction with offering vaccine under appropriate circumstances, to persons in immediate area
Use of epidemiologic tools to define exposure area and assess risk in the surrounding area
Nasal cultures and environmental samples for B. anthracis
Floor diagrams
Building ventilation
Traceback of letter path from destination to origin

Main Article

1 Members of the CDC Washington, D.C., Anthrax Response Team: Alicia Anderson, Tracy Agerton , Mary-Kate Appicelli, Paul Arguin, Robert Benson, Lilah Besser, Richard Besser, John Brooks, John Cardinelly, George Carlone, Mei Castor, Gerald Curtis, Lisa Delaney, Peter Dull, Eric Esswein, Cindy Friedman, Kate Glynn, Ron Hall, Rick Hartle, Leigh Ann Hawley, Leta Helsel, Tami Hilger, Patricia Holder, Scott Johnson, Molly Kellum, Bradley King, Jonathan King, Maria Elena Jefferds, Jill Levine, Han Li, Ken Martinez, Dino Mattorano, Jane McCamon, Trudy Messmer, Elizabeth Mothershed, Andy Mullins, Minday Perilla, Janet Pruckler, Julia Rhodes, Daniel Schmidt, Stephanie Schwartz, Theresa Smith, Karen Stamey, Evelene Steward-Clark, Eyasu Teshale, Lanier Thacker, Tim Uyeki, and Brad Winterton.

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The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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