Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link
Volume 8, Number 10—October 2002
THEME ISSUE
Bioterrorism-related Anthrax
Bioterrorism-related Anthrax

Call-Tracking Data and the Public Health Response to Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax

Joshua A. Mott*Comments to Author , Tracee A. Treadwell*, Thomas W. Hennessy†, Paula A. Rosenberg*, Mitchell I. Wolfe*, Clive M. Brown*, and Jay C. Butler†
Author affiliations: *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; †Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Anchorage, Alaska, USA;

Main Article

Table 1

Telephone calls referred to Emergency Operations Center State Liaison Team (SLT), by risk category, October 8 to November 11, 2001

Risk/urgency classification Criteria Frequency
 (N = 882) Percent (%) of all calls referred to SLT
Level 1: A
 “Confirmed” A. Clinically compatiblea case -and-
B. Isolation of Bacillus anthracis or two supportive lab results. 0b 0.0
B A. Clinically compatible case -and-
B. B. No isolation of B. anthracis, but one supportive lab result -or-
epidemiologic link to confirmed exposure but no supportive lab results 2 0.2
C A. Clinically compatible case –and-
B. No epidemiologic link and no lab results -and-
C. Known high-risk group: postal worker, U.S. government official, national press from contaminated facilities/or person with known contact with a contaminated facility -or-
Ingestion of, inhalation of, or dermal contact with suspicious substance 45 5.1
D A. No illness (or reports of symptoms that are clinically unconfirmed by a health professional) -and-
B. Known direct exposure to environment confirmed to be contaminated with B. anthracis 45 5.1
E A. Clinically compatible case –and-
B. Not in high-risk group, -and-
C. No lab results or epidemiologic link, -and-
D. No known exposures to suspicious substance or packages 134 15.2
F A. No illness (or reports of symptoms that are clinically unconfirmed by a health professional) -and-
B. Not in high-risk group, -and-
C. No lab results or epidemiologic link, -and-
D. Ingestion of, inhalation of, or dermal contact with suspicious substance, or received mail directly from facility known to be contaminated during period of investigation. 388 44.0
G A. No illness (or reports of symptoms that are clinically unconfirmed by a health professional) -and-
B. Not in high-risk group, -and-
C. No lab results or epidemiologic link, -and-
D. No known exposure to suspicious powder or packages. 247 28.0
Unknown/not classified A. Unknown or call not related to anthrax 21 2.4

aClinically compatible refers to physician or health professional report of any symptom thought to be related to inhalational, cutaneous, or gastrointestinal anthrax.
bCases of anthrax confirmed during this time period were identified through active surveillance by CDC field epidemiology teams and not the Emergency Operations Center telephone bank.

Main Article

1 Percentages do not add up to 100% as a call could include more than one topic (e.g., requests for information about more than one topic) or type of caller (e.g., caller is a physician who works at a state health department).

2Percentages do not add up to 100% because callers often reported more than one sign or symptom.

Page created: July 19, 2010
Page updated: July 19, 2010
Page reviewed: July 19, 2010
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.
file_external