Sept. 24 Test Results Indicate Tularemia Bacteria
(RICHMOND, Va) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified
the states of Maryland and Virginia and the District of Columbia today that an
airborne form of Tularemia bacterium was detected by air sensors in the
vicinity of the National Capital Mall during the weekend of Sept. 24 - 25.
Since then, additional tests from these collectors have all been negative.
Subsequent laboratory tests performed on the Sept. 24-25 samples have
supported the presence of low levels of the bacterium in the environment.
Public health officials do not believe the finding of low levels of the bacterium near
the National Mall indicate a public health threat.
Tularemia, which occurs naturally, is easily treated with common antibiotics.
It cannot be transmitted from person to person. Tularemia is found naturally
in the environment, and health officials are doing additional environmental
sampling as well as reviewing other possible causes of the positive reading.
State health departments have alerted local health departments, acute care
treatment facilities, health care providers and veterinarians to be on the
alert for signs of respiratory infections related to Tularemia. Also as a
precaution, CDC and public health officials are alerting the medical
community to be on the lookout for possible cases of Tularemia. To date, no
cases of Tularemia have been discovered or reported.
As a precautionary measure, CDC and public health officials are recommending
that anyone who visited areas around the National Mall between 10 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24 and 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 should see a health care
provider if they experience symptoms related to Tularemia, which include:
Sudden fever
Chills
Headaches
Muscle aches
Joint pain
Dry cough
Conjunctivitis
Pneumonia
People who do not have symptoms of Tularemia do not need to seek out medical
attention.
The Centers for Disease Control is the lead agency investigating this
incident. Information about Tularemia is available from the CDC at
www.cdc.gov
http://www.cdc.gov/. Similar information is available on the Virginia
Department of Health Web site at
www.vdh.virginia.gov.
D.C. Health Department, Leila Abrar (202) 841-9232
Maryland Department of Health, Karen Black (804) 471-0842
VDH Press Pager (877) 573-9504
