Last Updated

09 Jan 2003

Source: Washington Post, December 21, 2001.

Anthrax Widespread at Brentwood

Spores Scattered Farther Through Postal Center Than Thought

By Justin Blum, Washington Post Staff Writer

Anthrax spores were spread more widely than previously believed through the Brentwood Road postal facility, probably a result of air currents in the plant and cleaning methods on machines, officials said yesterday.

Bacteria from contaminated letters were detected near work areas of four people who developed inhalational anthrax and in parts of the plant where nobody became ill, according to a report released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC scientists believe that when two contaminated letters went through sorting machines, equipment pressed against the envelopes, causing spores to "puff" out into air and disperse widely, said Rosemary Sokas, a CDC official who studied the contamination at Brentwood.

The CDC reached that conclusion after finding positive results in samples taken by wiping surfaces with moistened gauze pads and vacuuming surface areas.

"The thinking is that in the absence of specific efforts to limit airflow, such as plastic sheeting strips and that sort of thing, that these machines likely released puffs of spores into the environment," Sokas said.

The spores likely were dispersed even farther, the CDC said, by postal workers who used blowers to clean equipment, a practice that was discontinued after contamination was discovered. Even after spores settled, they could have become airborne again after workers walked by, officials said.

Also yesterday, postal officials said a team of CDC workers is scheduled to meet individually with Brentwood employees today and describe pros and cons of starting a new course of antibiotics or receiving an anthrax vaccine along with more antibiotics. Because of the nature of the contamination, a CDC spokeswoman said workers in the plant should "strongly consider one of the more aggressive therapies." If workers choose neither, CDC officials said they should watch closely for symptoms of anthrax.

The reason officials say such treatments may be needed is that spores could survive longer in the lungs than had been thought and could still make people sick after their 60-day courses of antibiotics end.

The District health department has recommended against vaccinations, saying there is not enough evidence to support their value, while the Capitol doctor has recommended vaccinations for workers in the Hart Building offices of Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.).

"I certainly would like to know why they are recommending it for them and not the postal workers," said Ray Williams, executive vice president of the local American Postal Workers Union. "Anybody that wants to do it would have to weigh their own odds, weigh their own feelings. I don't look to the CDC or the health department for life-altering decisions."

CDC officials believe that the workers in Daschle's suite had "some of the highest exposures," said Kathy Harben, a CDC spokeswoman. She said a comparison could not be made to Brentwood because scientists did not know as much about contamination there. The reason, she said, is that investigators began studying the Daschle office much sooner after contamination.

About 1,700 postal employees worked in the plant area of Brentwood before it was closed Oct. 21 after workers became ill with inhalational anthrax. Two died.

The CDC said results of its wipe and vacuum tests showed no evidence of contamination in the offices or in the public lobby area.

Azeezaly Jaffer, the Postal Service's vice president for communications, said managers would distribute information to workers on their options. He said the Postal Service has asked CDC to begin administering requested vaccinations and antibiotics Dec. 27 to allow workers time to contemplate their options and because the period before Christmas is busy for postal workers.

Jaffer said many postal workers distrust the CDC.

"These are the same guys that told us when the Daschle letter went through that it was perfectly okay to go into Brentwood," he said.