Posted on 10/08/2001 5:30:32 AM PDT by Maceman
Officials: Anthrax Shown in Co-Worker
| Monday, October 08, 2001 |
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BOCA RATON, Fla. — A co-worker of the man who died last week from anthrax also has tested positive for the disease and the building where both worked was closed after the bacterium was detected there.
The latest case, a man whose name was not immediately made public, was in stable condition Monday at an unidentified hospital, according to both the Florida and North Carolina health departments.
A nasal swab from the patient tested positive for the anthrax bacterium, said Tim O'Conner, regional spokesman for Florida's health department. It was not yet clear if anthrax had only infiltrated his nose, spread to his lungs or if he had a full-blown case of the disease.
The man's co-worker, Bob Stevens, died on Friday, the first person in 25 years in the United States to have died from a rare inhaled form of anthrax.
News that Stevens had contracted the disease set off fears of bio-terrorism, especially when it was revealed that Middle Eastern men were believed to have recently visited an airfield about 40 miles from Stevens' home in Lantana and asked questions about crop-dusters.
O'Conner said there is no evidence that either man was a victim of terrorism. ``That would take a turn in the investigation,'' he said. ``It's a different aspect, we were thinking more of environmental sources.''
Stevens, 63, was a photo editor at the supermarket tabloid The Sun. Environmental tests performed at the Sun's offices in Boca Raton detected the anthrax bacteria, said O'Conner.
The Sun's offices have been shuttered and law enforcement, local and state health and CDC officials were to take additional samples from the building on Monday, O'Conner said.
About 300 people who work in the building are being contacted by the Sun and instructed not come to work Monday and undergo antibiotic treatment to prevent the disease.
The FBI was helping in the search for the source of the bacterium, said Miami FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela. But ``the current risk of anthrax is extremely low,'' O'Conner said.
It was unclear when the final tests would tell whether or not the second man has full-blown anthrax. The bacterium normally has an incubation period of up to seven days, but could take up to 60 days to develop, O'Conner said.
``We're waiting for additional testing to see if it will become a confirmed case of anthrax or not,'' said Barbara Reynolds, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. ``I realize for the public this is going to be a very slight distinction.''
Michael Kahane, vice president and general counsel of American Media Inc., which publishes the Sun and two other tabloids, the Globe and the National Enquirer, confirmed the company closed its Boca Raton building at the request of state health officials.
``We are cooperating with the department of health and all other governmental agencies investigating this matter,'' he said Monday. ``Obviously our first concern is the health and well-being of our employees and their families.''
Only 18 inhalation cases in the United States were documented in the 20th century, the most recent in 1976 in California. State records show the last anthrax case in Florida was in 1974.
Officials believe Stevens contracted anthrax naturally in Florida. The disease can be contracted from farm animals or soil, though the bacterium is not normally found among wildlife or livestock in the state. Stevens was described as an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and gardening.
County medical examiners are looking over any unexplained deaths, but have not found any cases connected to anthrax. Veterinarians have been told to be on alert for animals who might have the disease, but none have turned up.
Health officials are checking intensive care units of area hospitals to check records going back 30 days for suspicious cases. They should be finished Monday, said O'Conner.
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If this is what happened, the first thing I thought of is how some of those papers have a tendency to smear Middle Eastern despots like Kaddafy and Saddam with all kinds of denigrating stories . . . I know they accused Kaddafy of being a transvestite, and I assume they did similar stuff with Hussein and possibly bin Laden. Just a thought.
Here are a few reasons I have thought of:
1. Large Jewish population
2. Numerous military installations.
3. Numerous tourist attractions
4. President's brother is Governor.
5. Site of controversy that ultimately put President Bush into office.
Additionally, we already know the terrorists were operating within a 10 mile radius of the latest anthrax incidents.
They are attempting to prevent a widespread panic, and I would suspect that the press has been asked to cooperate.
But in my opinion, more panic is caused by the distrust and subterfuge, than by forthright reporting of actual events.
Any place the terrorists are living or able to travel to are targets for any reason they decide. All they need is access from the outside of buildings to air ducts and they can attempt to spread biological and chemical agents into buildings. They most likely aren't the most sophisticated or intelligent enemies we could have, but they are able to use our political correctness against us. Murder isn't too hard to do, as long as they are living with us they are an extreme danger.
Florida gained international attention during the election "recount" fiasco. (I believe Bin Laden referred to the elections in one of his tapes.) It is also perceived to have a large Jewish population, which was highly visible in the Palm Beach ballot nonsense. It is also governed by the President's brother.
If it's gram negative, then it isn't bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)
Occam's razor folks. They are finding anthrax in the office. If he was the source, what are the chances it spread to the office but not his home, it spread to co-workers, but not to his wife and kids.
And for the guy who thought maybe a small animal had died in the vent system. Creative explanation, but anthrax just isn't present in this country, and small animals die in vent systems all the time...
I want to hear more from the husband of the med tech in Houston... that is scary!
It doesn't get missed, folks. Totally normal to want a less frightening explanation, but it just isn't there.
Agreed -- but the media is also responsible for the hype, since they haven't really concentrated on the fact that Anthrax is really hard to spread to significant numbers of the population -- and this story might prove that. Instead, we hear reports about people buying gasmasks, antibiotics, etc. I thought the Herald did a responsible job in their first reporting, but now we are getting dumbed-down stories from them as well.
The concern might be more about tourism than anything else, since the tourist season begins when the weather gets cold up north.
Lassa hemorrhagic fever: See full discussion of HFs (West Africa, including Nigeria): Lassa fever is caused by hantavirus. The incubation period ranges from 7-21 days. Presentation of Lassa fever varies. Common early symptoms are gradual onset of fever, malaise, headache, and abdominal pain. Other symptoms are conjunctivitis, facial swelling, sore throat, non-productive cough, retrosternal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, back pain, and myalgia. Respiratory rate, temperature, pulse rate are increased and blood pressure decreased. Neurological symptoms may also occur, including hearing loss, tremors, and encephalitis. Hemorrhagic manifestations (not usually evident) may include mucosal bleeding and, less frequently, conjunctival, gastrointestinal, or vaginal bleeding. Severe infections produce hemorrhagic manifestations, pleural effusions, and shock. Pregnant women are more likely to die than are others. Some degree of deafness occurs in about 30% of patients. Treatment is supportive and also includes ribavirin as discussed in the full discussion of hemorrhagic fevers.
Not to scare anyone...but the hantavirus is rumored to be bioweapon capable. It is far less deadly then anthrax. (5-10% range)
Yes, I don't think anthrax is a disease of rodents, it's found in sheep and goats and animals like that.
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