November 8, 2001/6:00 PM, EST
Contact: CDC Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

Press Release

Update: Transcript and audio clip, New CDC fact sheets, Current case count

The transcript from today's telebriefing with Drs. Julie Gerberding and Keiji Fukuda is available online. Today's briefing was also webcast and the audio clip is also available online. Both transcript and audio clip are accessible from www.cdc.gov/media.

Telebriefings regarding CDC activities and the anthrax investigations will be conducted during the entire month of November, on Monday through Friday, from Noon – 12:45 PM, EST. The toll-free number for these briefings is 1–866–254–5942. For the latest update on CDC activities and on-going anthrax investigations visit www.bt.cdc.gov or www.cdc.gov/media.

Two new facts sheets are now available online for clinicians: Children and anthrax: A fact sheet for clinicians and Children and anthrax: A fact sheet for parents.

Guidelines for investigators conducting environmental sampling for Bacillus anthracis are available online at www.bt.cdc.gov/DocumentsApp/Anthrax/Protective/Protective.asp.

CDC confirmed cases of anthrax

Summary of Local, State, and Federal Confirmed Human Cases and Exposures

There have been 4 deaths associated with inhalational anthrax.

CDC confirmed cases are based on a rigorous case definition, which was published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on October 19, 2001. The MMWR is available on-line at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5041a1.htm.

CDC defines a confirmed case of anthrax as 1) a clinically compatible case of cutaneous, inhalational, or gastrointestinal illness that is laboratory confirmed by isolation of B. anthracis from an affected tissue or site or 2) other laboratory evidence of B. anthracis infection based on at least two supportive laboratory tests. CDC defines a suspect case as 1) a clinically compatible case of illness without isolation of B. anthracis and no alternative diagnosis, but with laboratory evidence of B. anthracis by one supportive laboratory test or 2) a clinically compatible case of anthrax epidemiologically linked to a confirmed environmental exposure, but without corroborative laboratory evidence of B. anthracis infection.

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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