By ROGER CASE
What is my risk of contracting anthrax?
The risk of any person in this country contracting anthrax is infinitesimal. The only risk is for those few people who have been in a place of known exposure, and we have seen that in only a few instances in the last couple of weeks in this country. It’s been identified in one business in Florida, a couple of businesses in New York City and New Jersey, and in a government office building in Washington, D.C. Anthrax from suspected terrorist activity has not been identified west of the East Coast. (The last human case of anthrax in Washington state was in 1957, and that was skin anthrax. The last case of inhaled anthrax was in 1936.)
What can the average person do?
The best approach in dealing with anthrax is to know a little more about anthrax. Anthrax doesn’t spread from person-to-person. A number of different antibiotics can be used to treat the disease. These antibiotics are very effective in preventing a person from getting the disease when exposed, and if someone does develop the symptoms of anthrax, it is readily treatable.
Should people buy and store antibiotics?
Public health officials strongly recommend against stockpiling antibiotics. There is no need to buy or store these medications, and it can be detrimental to both the person and to the community. Only people who are exposed to anthrax need to take antibiotics, and even then it needs to be in consultation with state health authorities. The person may not stockpile or store the correct antibiotics — there are a number of different ones that can be used. Any of these antibiotics are available when you need them. We are capable of delivering more than 2 million courses of therapy of ciprofloxacin, or Cipro. And other medications are available.
Should the public be vaccinated against anthrax?
There is no vaccine available for the general public or for people exposed to anthrax (or for people with the disease). Antibiotics we use are very effective in preventing anthrax from occurring. Only active duty military personnel have been administered anthrax vaccine, as are veterinarians who regularly work with animals that may be infected with the disease.
Can a person get screened or tested for anthrax?
There is no screening test for anthrax. There are tests for the presence of the disease once you contract it, and there are tests that can confirm presence of anthrax spores. None of these tests are field tests, and each is performed only under specified circumstances. There is a great difference between being exposed, and actually having the disease. The initial phase in any investigation is to determine the presence of the anthrax spore. Once officials identify a suspicious situation, a thorough public health investigation is done to ascertain the presence of the anthrax spore. If anthrax spores are found, health officials will identify and examine all people possibly exposed to determine the extent of exposure at a given place, and these people will be offered antibiotic treatment. Without an identified presence of anthrax spores, there is no need for prophylactic antibiotics.
Is anthrax contagious?
Anthrax cannot be spread from person-to-person. We can only contract the disease by either direct contact through a break in the skin, by breathing spores, or by eating food contaminated with some form of the organism. A person is not contagious to another person.
How should I prepare for bioterrorist activities?
Just as you would for any disaster. Your Red Cross or county emergency management office can provide you with an emergency preparedness checklist. In addition to usual precautions, (food, water, clothing, shelter, communication equipment) you may want to make sure your place of security has at least one room which can be secured from outside air. Should you buy a gas mask? Definitely not! Only HAZ-MAT personnel (who investigate sites for a variety of hazardous materials) need wear such protective gear. If you ever find yourself in an area where you suspect aerosolized contaminants, leave the area and call law enforcement.
l How prepared is Island County for emergency/disaster situations?
Island County Disaster Council has been meeting monthly for the past 5 years, and have developed the county’s Emergency Management Plan. Council members have conducted regular drills to address a variety of emergency or disaster situations. Recent meetings have addressed the issue possible bioterrorist activities. Local, state and federal teams are now on alert to respond to any identified emergency that might arise from such activities.
Go to www.islandcounty.net/
health/bioterrorism.htm for more information.
Roger Case is Island County’s Health Officer
