October 18, 2001/7:30 PM, ET
Contact: CDC Press Office
(404) 639-3286

Press Release

CDC Update: Confirmed Case in New Jersey, Spanish language information, CDC Director video and transcript, MMWR on anthrax

Confirmed case in New Jersey

A confirmed case of cutaneous anthrax has been identified in a postal worker in New Jersey.  CDC received the biopsy specimen on October 17th and reported the findings to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) today, October 18th.  CDC has sent a team to assist the New Jersey health department.

There are now 6 confirmed cases of anthrax in the United States; 2 in Florida, 3 in New York, and 1 in New Jersey.

For more information on the New Jersey investigation, contact DHSS at (609) 984–7160 or visit the website at www.state.nj.us/health

Spanish-language information

Updates about the on-going anthrax investigations are available online, in Spanish, at www.cdc.gov/spanish/default.htm

Transcript and video links

Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, Director, CDC, provides information about anthrax . Topics include: risk of anthrax exposure, antibiotics, anthrax symptoms, suspicious mail, and CDC’s role in the investigation.  Both video and transcript are available online at www.cdc.gov/media/index.htm

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

This week’s issue of the MMWR features an article about the on-going anthrax investigations which includes information boxes on the three clinical forms of anthrax (inhalation, gastrointestinal and cutaneous); recommended postexposure treatment; handling letters/packages and environmental management of exposed areas; handling laboratory specimens possibly infected with anthrax (for healthcare providers); and handling anthrax and other biological agent threats (for the general public). The second article focuses on recognizing biological agents and includes basic information for healthcare providers for recognizing anthrax, plague, botulism, smallpox, inhalational tularemia, and hemorrhagic fever. The report is available online at www.cdc.gov/mmwr

 For the latest update on CDC activities and on-going anthrax investigations visit www.bt.cdc.gov/ or www.cdc.gov/media/.

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