Threat to our county from anthrax is small

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 29, 2001

Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Those words were spoken in 1933 and are certainly apropos today.

After the terrible tragedy of Sept. 11, we face a biological or chemical terrorism threat. The peril is very real, and people's concerns are valid. But there is an urgent need to put risk into perspective.

Certainly, reports of people being exposed to anthrax are alarming. However, the majority of those exposed have responded to treatment. An overwhelming number of concerns relating to exposure have proved to be bogus. As of this writing, not one of more than 200 calls received locally has resulted in the finding of anthrax spores.

Several of those 200 calls did result in followup efforts, but all reports proved negative. To my knowledge, every caller was interviewed, and legitimate concerns were investigated.

It is important to realize that the possibility of being exposed to anthrax at this time in this county is minuscule. That is not to suggest that people's concerns are imprudent.

The Fire Department, Sheriff's Office, Health Department, County Emergency Management, private doctors, hospitals, and emergency rooms have all received calls from worried residents. It is important to carefully consider why an individual may feel at risk.

Local physicians are being encouraged to listen to patients who feel they may have been exposed rather than sending them off to the emergency room or Health Department. Evaluating an exposure and determining risk are not difficult for a trained professional. The infrastructure to deal with incidents that have merit is well organized. Inappropriate referrals can be overwhelming and disruptive to care in real emergencies.

Packages and mail are high on the list of concerns. There are a number of ways to identify a suspicious mailing.

It may have excessive postage, a handwritten or poorly typed address, a misspelled or no return address, be discolored or have an odor, be bulky or have excessive weight, be in a rigid or uneven envelope, have homemade labels or cut and pasted lettering, or excessive security materials such as masking tape or string.

If you suspect a letter or package may be suspicious, do not panic, because it is likely the mailing is just fine. Do not open the item or shake or empty the contents.

Place the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container to prevent leakage. Do not put the package in a confined space such as a drawer. If the contents spilled, do not try to clean up the powder, just put a cover on it immediately. Leave the room and close the door, and keep others from entering the room. Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading the material to your face. Call your local police or health department for further instruction. If you are in an office, report this to your supervisor.

If you feel you have been exposed to anthrax, note the following:

Most likely you have not been exposed. Consider exactly how you feel you were exposed. Can you identify a credible threat? Call your physician and explain your concern. Call the Health Department if you do not have a physician. Avoid going to the emergency room unless you have significant illness.

Is anyone at work or in your house sick with the same symptoms? Have you recently been exposed to someone who is sick? Remember we are in the flu season.

Anthrax is a very rare illness that can cause infection in the skin, gastrointestinal tract and lungs. To cause infection, the organisms must be rubbed into abraded skin, swallowed, or inhaled as a fine mist. Disease can be prevented after exposure to anthrax by early treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Anthrax is not spread from one person to another.

What I appreciate most about this community and about this country is that along with our diversity, we will pull together when we feel threatened as a nation or as a district. We have our disagreements individually, but we will stand together on larger issues.

This is a time to tighten our belts, get tough, and remember who we are: citizens of the greatest nation on earth. Anthrax is a small blip on a large global screen; let's not allow it more impact than it deserves.

-- Dr. Marc Yacht is director of the Pasco County Health Department.

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