Case 5 (first reported case) CONFIRMED
Characteristics 63-year old male, employed by America Media Inc.
Onset date Sept. 30, 2001 (news implies 9/27-28, attending MD states 9/28-29, CDC states 9/30 -- most likely)
Medical care date October 2, 2001
MMWR date 50 (40), Oct. 12, 2001; 50 (41), Oct. 12, 2001
Location Boca Raton, Florida
Probable source One or more mailed letters or packages
Disease type Inhalational anthrax
Details Sought medical care at a local hospital on October 2 with fever and altered mental status. Despite antibiotic therapy, his clinical condition deteriorated rapidly, and he died on October 5. An autopsy performed on October 6 confirmed the cause of death as inhalational anthrax. An investigation revealed no obvious exposures to B. anthracis. Workplace interviews regarding mail exposure showed that the patient rarely handled or opened workplace mail, but co-workers recalled that he had examined a piece of stationery containing a fine, white, talc-like powder on September 19. The patient was observed holding the stationery close to his face as he looked at it over his computer keyboard.

Click for clinical details (Emerging Inf Diseases)

Click for case study (.pdf file, New England J Med)

Click for environmental and epidemiological details (Emerging Inf Diseases)

Click for early account of Robert Stevens anthrax infection (10/8/01)

Click for news account of Robert Stevens (10/14/01)

Click for news account of case management (10/27/01)

Click for news account of government criticism (11/10/01)

Click for speculation about source of exposure (11/16/01)

Click for news account of anthrax spores found in AMI building (11/30/01)

Click for news account of extent of anthrax spores in AMI building (12/5/01)

Click for follow-up news account of impact on AMI (1/27/02)

Click for additional follow-up of impact on AMI (2/4/02)

Click for lessons learned in ensuing six months (3/26/02)

Click for more details of early investigation (7/23/02)

Click for news account of potential law suit of Stevens' widow (10/9/02)

Click for filing of law suit against government by Stevens' widow (2/15/03)

Click for interview with Stevens' widow (2/36/03)

Click for dramatic account of Robert Stevens' anthrax attack (3/03)

Click for news of lawsuit against government by Stevens' family (9/25/03)

Click for more news of lawsuit against government by Stevens' family (9/29/03)

Click for four year follow-up with Stevens' widow (11/5/05)

Click for six year follow-up with Stevens' widow (10/6/07)

Click for follow-up of Stevens' widow nearly seven years later (8/07/08)
Death date October 5, 2001