Anthrax disease might have infected 84 lab workers in Atlanta, according to a U.S. CDC official on Friday. The 84 scientists have a strong possibility to have been infected with Anthrax disease as they have failed to follow safety procedures.
According to an announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday, at least 75 people may have been affected by the Anthrax disease as they have been exposed to live anthrax bacteria while working in US federal government laboratories in Atlanta.
Because of the Anthrax disease alarm, federal authorities were driven to hold an investigation.
By Friday, from 75, the number has potentially increased to 84, according to an email by CDC spokesman Benjamin Haynes.
The potential exposure to the Anthrax disease reportedly took place when the researchers who were working in a high-level biosecurity laboratory at the agency's Atlanta campus have failed to follow proper procedures to inactivate the bacteria which causes the Anthrax disease. The workers reportedly transferred the infected samples to lower-security CDC labs without the proper equipment equipped to handle live anthrax.
Director and Dr Paul Meechan of the environmental health and safety compliance office at the CDC said the agency discovered the potential exposure to Anthrax disease on Jun.13, Friday evening. He added that he immediately began contacting individuals toiling in the labs who may have unknowingly handled live anthrax bacteria.
Meechan said, "No employee has shown any symptoms of anthrax illness". However, he adds that normal incubation period for Anthrax disease may take five up to seven days, some even 60 days after exposure, according to documented cases of the illness.
Despite the fact that almost seven researchers may have come into direct contact with the live anthrax, the agency is reportedly still trying to contain as many employees at the agency who may have strolled into any of the labs at risk of Anthrax disease. As of the current moment, those employees are being offered treatment. According to the Guardian, around 75 individuals are now being offered a treatment for the Anthrax disease which involves 60 days of antibiotic ciprofloxacin as well as an injection with an anthrax vaccine.
Meechan also said that it is still too early to establish whether the transfer of the Anthrax disease was accidental or intentional. He said that every worker who was doing procedures to inactivate the bacteria was working in a bio-security laboratory. They are also reportedly "tier one select agent approved," which meant these employees have already gone through a security reliability review and are deemed "stable, trustworthy individuals".
Anthrax disease possibly infecting 84 people warrants the alarm of the public, and possibly the whole world. As such, Meechan assures that the CDC is currently undergoing an internal investigation to discover how the exposure occurred. He added that disciplinary measures will be taken if warranted. He said "This should not have happened". To address those exposed to Anthrax disease, he said, "We're taking care of it. We will not let our people be at risk."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
