Introduction
The phony anthrax threat is becoming the 2000's equivalent of the bomb scare of the past. However, this is causing serious problems: operationally tying up unnecessary resources, a large number of people inconvenience at times, and the financial aspect (cost is very high implementing local, state, and federal resources on these types of incidents).
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has indicated there has not been any confirmed exposure from any previous incident of this type thus far. Although each threat must be treated as real until proven otherwise. Experience has demonstrated that an anthrax incident is likely a hoax. There has been a large number of these types of incidents in recent months.
Background
Anthrax is a type of bacteria that occurs naturally in various types of livestock. It can also occur outside of a host animal in spore form and can remain viable for many years. The terrorist knows anthrax can be an extremely lethal weapon. According to State Office of Emergency Services (OES), one ounce of anthrax spores is sufficient to infect seventy thousand people if the spores were released into a closed ventilation system.
Anthrax has an incubation period of 1 to 5 days. The disease will begin with a sudden onset of flue-like symptoms. After 2 to 4 days victims will exhibit difficulty breathing, exhaustion, and tachycardia. Death will usually occur within 24 hours after the onset of the acute phase. The fatality rate for untreated pulmonary anthrax is over ninety percent.
The Incident
When working at an anthrax incident the FBI is considered the lead agency with jurisdictional authority. The County Health Department along with the local Haz Mat Team must be called and will help in the risk assessment. It is not recommended to test these types of materials in State and/or local Health Department Laboratories at this time because of concerns about biosafety, available diagnostic technology for rapid testing, and unresolved issues about how extensively these materials should be tested for the presence of other biologic agents.
The most advanced, rapid laboratory technology to test for high priority biologic agents is available only within the Department of Defense (DOD) laboratories, USAMRIID and the Navy Medical Research Institute (NAMRI). The Center for Disease Control (CDC) should also be involved in the decision-making process. The CDC can be contacted through the Emergency Response Coordination Group (ERCG), National Center of Environmental Health, the number is 770-448-7100. Decisions about the need for decontamination and the initiation of antibiotic treatment should be made in coordination with local, state, and federal officials. The anthrax vaccination is not recommended as an initial measure.
Action Plan Considerations
- Don protective equipment (Level B and SCBA).
- Position Upwind, Upgrade, and Upstream. Monitor the wind.
- Suspect a secondary attack.
- Consult the Janes Chem/Bio Terrorist Book for specifics.
- Isolate the suspected area and deny entry.
- Begin thinking decon (wet or dry?)
- Isolate suspected contaminated people and get names of everyone involved.
- Unvaccinated exposed individuals should receive antibiotics quickly.
- Contact FBI, they will quickly activate necessary federal agencies and special teams.
- Use 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution (1:10 dilution bleach) for decon solution 10-15 minutes.
- Use 5% solution 30 minutes for equipment decon.
- If confirmed, shut down the facility, and shut down all ventilation.
- Decisions about evacuation, quarantine, and antibiotic treatment must be made based on confirmation of field immunoassay kits, or other rapid testing. The FBI will assist in the action plan and site safety plan preparation.
- The FBI will transport materials for laboratory testing to an appropriate laboratory.
References:
- County of Los Angeles, Department of Health Services, Acute Communicable Disease Control - Guidelines as transmitted as a Draft on Dec. 3, 1998, from the Center for Disease Control
- San Diego Fire Department, Hazardous Material Team, Anthrax Guidelines
- International Association of Fire Chiefs, Counterterrorism Programs, Weekly Information Report of 12/31/98
- San Diego FBI, Biological Threat Management Guidelines
