November 9, 2001
Update
on the anthrax situation and anthrax guidelines
The
anthrax situation in the Caribbean
On November 3, 2001 CAREC received a package of 3 envelopes
from Grenada, which were suspicious for Anthrax. None of the contents of the
envelope were found to contain any powder. This brings the total number of
suspicious envelopes without powder received at CAREC to eight, as of November
1, 2001. Previously five envelopes with powder were received and they all tested
negative for Anthrax.
The
anthrax situation in the United States
As of November 7, 2001 CDC reported 22 cases of anthrax, 17 confirmed (10
inhalation and 7 cutaneous) and 5 suspected cutaneous cases. Four of the 10
confirmed inhalation anthrax cases died. These cases were reported from media
houses, among postal or hospital workers or were consistent with exposures to
letters known
to be contaminated with anthrax spores. The reports were from Washington DC, New
Jersey, New York and Florida.
The
global anthrax situation
As of November 8, 2001, the press has reported the presence of anthrax spores
in US Embassies in a few countries, however there have been no official reports
to dates.
Distinguishing
Influenza-like illness from inhalational anthrax
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have published an
article on considerations for distinguishing influenza-like illness from
inhalational anthrax in the MMWR of November 9, 2001 / 50(44); 984-6, http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5044a5.htm
