The U.S. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) is currently monitoring 75 of their Atlanta workers who were exposed to the Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax) virus after they reportedly did not follow safety protocols.
Bacillus anthracis is the bacterium that causes anthrax. The virus is naturally present in soil and usually affects domestic and wild animals around the world. Human contamination can happen if people come in contact with infected animals. Vaccines are available to combat the deadly virus. In 2010, over 400 cases of Anthrax infection inside two fatalities were reported from a province in the Philippines. Prior to the case of the Atlanta workers, the United States documented two cases; the last one was reported in 2010 and was treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Safety investigators found that the biosafety level (BSL-3) in their Roybal campus was processing some virus samples for transition to their BSL-2 labs. The samples were also being used for researches to identify new methods of detecting harmful pathogens. Before the exposure was discovered, the samples were transferred to at least three laboratories. These labs did not have the necessary tools to handle the samples properly. In addition, the workers were not wearing any protection gear, CIDRAP reported.
The contamination in the labs may have occurred sometime between June 6 and June 13.
All employees who may have handled the samples were notified and given antibiotics. The investigators also collected samples from the labs before decontamination.
"No employee has shown any symptoms of anthrax illness." said Paul Meechan, director of environmental health and safety compliance, during an interview with Reuters. The workers will undergo five to seven days of incubation.
While there were only seven researchers who had direct contact with the anthrax samples, the CDC provided antibiotic and screening procedures to all employees who worked in the labs.
"This should not have happened," Meechan added. "We're taking care of it. We will not let our people be at risk."
