Rare Germ Found in D.C.,

Rare Germ Found in D.C., but No Terror Fears
Tularemia Is Highly Infectious; Can Cause Pneumonia and Systemic Infection

- A relatively rare biological agent has been detected in air filters serving Washington D.C. in recent weeks, ABC News has learned -- but current evidence does not show any indication whatsoever of terrorism.

The federal government found six air filters around the nation's capital checked on Sept. 24 and 25 contained "trace amounts" of tularemia, a type of bacteria.

The tests were conducted as part of routine homeland security procedures, in which selected air filters from around the nation's capital are checked for chemical and biological agents.

Subsequent tests by the Centers for Disease Control confirmed low levels of the bacteria.

Tularemia causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills and muscle pain, but it is not generally considered life threatening. People who inhale the bacteria, however, can experience severe respiratory illness, including pneumonia and systemic infection if they are not treated, according to the CDC.

About 200 human cases of the disease are reported in the United States each year. The disease, also known as "rabbit fever," can be treated with several common antibiotics.

Tularemia is a naturally occurring disease typically transmitted by rodents and dead carcasses, and has been reported in the past in all U.S. states except Hawaii. Homeland security and FBI officials say no human illnesses have been reported, and that the health risk is low.

No additional traces have been detected since Sept. 24 and 25. One law enforcement official said drought conditions in Washington and heavy pedestrian traffic may have sent particles airborne. No biodefense sensors have gone off.

There are concerns about tularemia being used as a bioweapon, because it is highly infectious, and a small amount of bacteria can cause disease. It can remain alive for weeks in water and soil.

ABC News correspondents Pierre Thomas and Jack Date filed this story.

Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/Health/story?id=1174699

I don't doubt what you're reporting, Kalliope, but my intution says it's Legionnaire's disease. However, my intution has been proven wrong in the past.

I wonder specifically where each of the 6 filters were located...

The pedestrian explanation doesn't add up imho, as most pedestrians are on sidewalks and not kicking around dead carcasses. Granted the mall has a large expanse of grass, but it is well maintained.



Toronto ought to test their quarantine patients for tularemia...

From the CDC website:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Tularemia

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Download PDF version formatted for print (144 KB/2 pages)

Q. What is tularemia?
A. Tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” is a disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Tularemia is typically found in animals, especially rodents, rabbits, and hares. Tularemia is usually a rural disease and has been reported in all U.S. states except Hawaii.

Q. How do people become infected with tularemia?
A. Typically, people become infected through the bite of infected insects (most commonly, ticks and deerflies), by handling infected sick or dead animals, by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or by inhaling airborne bacteria.

Q. Does tularemia occur naturally in the United States?
A. Yes. Tularemia is a widespread disease in animals. About 200 human cases of tularemia are reported each year in the United States. Most cases occur in the south-central and western states. Nearly all cases occur in rural areas, and are caused by the bites of ticks and biting flies or from handling infected rodents, rabbits, or hares. Cases also resulted from inhaling airborne bacteria and from laboratory accidents.

Q. What are the signs and symptoms of tularemia?
A. The signs and symptoms people develop depend on how they are exposed to tularemia. Possible symptoms include skin ulcers, swollen and painful lymph glands, inflamed eyes, sore throat, mouth sores, diarrhea or pneumonia. If the bacteria are inhaled, symptoms can include abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough, and progressive weakness. People with pneumonia can develop chest pain, difficulty breathing, bloody sputum, and respiratory failure. Tularemia can be fatal if the person is not treated with appropriate antibiotics.

Q. Why are we concerned about tularemia being used as a bioweapon?
A. Francisella tularensis is highly infectious. A small number of bacteria (10-50 organisms) can cause disease. If Francisella tularensis were used as a bioweapon, the bacteria would likely be made airborne so they could be inhaled. People who inhale the bacteria can experience severe respiratory illness, including life-threatening pneumonia and systemic infection, if they are not treated.

Q. Can someone become infected with the tularemia bacteria from another person?
A. People have not been known to transmit the infection to others, so infected persons do not need to be isolated.

Q. How quickly would someone become sick if he or she were exposed to tularemia bacteria?
A. The incubation period (the time from being exposed to becoming ill) for tularemia is typically 3 to 5 days, but can range from 1 to 14 days.

Q. What should someone do if he or she suspects exposure to tularemia bacteria?
A. If you suspect you were exposed to tularemia bacteria, see a doctor quickly. Treatment with antibiotics for a period of 10-14 days or more after exposure may be recommended. If you are given antibiotics, it is important to take them according to the instructions you receive. All of the medication you are given must be taken.

Local and state health departments should be notified immediately so an investigation and infection control activities can begin.

Q. How is tularemia diagnosed?
A. When a person has symptoms that appear related to tularemia, the healthcare worker collects specimens, such as blood or sputum, for testing in a diagnostic or reference laboratory. Laboratory test results for tularemia may be presumptive or confirmatory. Presumptive (preliminary) identification may take less than 2 hours, but confirmatory testing will take more time, often 24 to 48 hours or longer depending on the methods that need to be used.

Depending on the circumstances, a person may be given treatment based on symptoms before the laboratory results are returned.

Q. Can tularemia be effectively treated with antibiotics?
A. Yes. Early antibiotic treatment is recommended whenever it is likely a person was exposed to tularemia or has been diagnosed as being infected with tularemia. Several types of antibiotics have been effective in treating tularemia infections. The tetracycline class (such as doxycycline) or fluoroquinolone class (such as ciprofloxacin) of antibiotics are taken orally. Streptomycin or gentamicin are also effective against tularemia, and are given by injection into a muscle or vein. Health officials will test the bacteria in the early stages of the response to determine which antibiotics will be most effective.

Q. How long can Francisella tularensis exist in the environment?
A. Francisella tularensis can remain alive for weeks in water and soil.

Q. Is there a vaccine available for tularemia?
A. A vaccine for tularemia was used in the past to protect laboratory workers, but it is not currently available.

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/tularemia/faq.asp

Q. How do people become infected with tularemia?
A. Typically, people become infected through the bite of infected insects (most commonly, ticks and deerflies), by handling infected sick or dead animals, by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or by inhaling airborne bacteria.


Hasn't this been happing in New Orleans? Did any of the survivors go to DC?

Kalliope said:

Q. How do people become infected with tularemia?
A. Typically, people become infected through the bite of infected insects (most commonly, ticks and deerflies), by handling infected sick or dead animals, by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or by inhaling airborne bacteria.


Hasn't this been happing in New Orleans? Did any of the survivors go to DC?

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Well, if you want to delve into that...there were 3 Bio level 3 labs in the area where Katrina hit, but you would have known of the effects if any of those exotic buggers escaped and contaminated the water and people of New Orleans...JMO

data junkie said:

I wonder specifically where each of the 6 filters were located...

The pedestrian explanation doesn't add up imho, as most pedestrians are on sidewalks and not kicking around dead carcasses. Granted the mall has a large expanse of grass, but it is well maintained.



Toronto ought to test their quarantine patients for tularemia...

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The well maintained grass might be the answer...I know a woman who almost died of tularemia after accidently running over a rabbit with a riding mower--apparently inhaled some pureed bunny. Took the docs quite a long time to diagnose her....

yikes Pogonip...

Pureed bunny. Don't they call that rabbit stew?

Life immitating art. Does anyone else remember the episode of "The West Wing" where they had a lockdown dut to tularemia being picked up in the white house sensors?!

Pureed bunny? Eeeewwwww!

The ability of detection of minute amounts of toxins has increased such an extent that toxins that may have been around in normal amounts are now considered contaminants.

This has happened with testing of water.

There is no such thing as "pure" anything. Air, water, soil and the like. I think this is alarmist.