This is an official
CDC HEALTH ALERT
Distributed via Health Alert Network
Thursday, October 18, 2001, 13:27 EDT (1:27 PM EDT)
CDCHAN-00036-2001-10-18-ALT-N
Update Update Update Update
Recommendations for visitors or employees who were in the Hart Senate buildings on
10/15/01
(Time expanded to include visitors up to 7pm in the Hart Senate Office Bldg)
People who were on the 5th
or 6th floor, SE wing, of the Hart Senate Building, Washington,
D.C., between 9am-7pm on October 15, 2001, should receive 60 days of
prophylaxis for possible anthrax exposure because it is believed that these
individuals were potentially exposed to the bacteria. These individuals should
not be given nasal swabs as a preliminary test for exposure to anthrax. Nasal
swabs are primarily being used for epidemiological investigation, not for
individual diagnosis, prophylaxis, or treatment.
The Capitol Physician’s Office
has offered to provide the appropriate drug for anyone (staff or visitors) who
was in this area on October 15, 2001, during the specified time. The D. C.
Department of Health has set up a call center at (202) 442-9196 for treatment
information as well as general inquiries. These guidelines may change over the
next few days and we will update them as needed based on continuing results.
Individuals who were in the specified area of the Hart Senate Building on
October 15 between 9am-7pm and are presently in another state/county should
contact their state/county health department or CDC for information on
treatment.
Studies are ongoing in the
capital area to assess whether additional people will need prophylaxis. At the
current time there is no indication that additional people who visited other
areas of the Hart Senate Building or the capital need to be on prophylaxis or
to have nasal swabs.
For more
information contact 770-488-7100
_________________________________________________
Categories of Health Alert messages:
Health Alert- conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.
Health Advisory- provides important information for a specific incident or
situation; may not require immediate action.
Health Update- provides updated information regarding an incident or
situation; unlikely to require immediate action.
=======================================
You have received this message based upon
the information contained within our emergency notification data base. If you
have a different or additional e-mail or fax address that you would like us to
use please notify us as soon as possible by e-mail at healthalert@cdc.gov.
=======================================
|
