Last Updated

11 Jun 2003

Source: Associated Press, November 15, 2001.

Veterinarians urged to watch for anthrax cases

ATLANTA - Government health officials said yesterday that they are urging veterinarians to watch for anthrax symptoms in animals as an indication of a new wave of bioterrorist attacks on humans.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have asked veterinarians to be on alert, particularly in cities where people have contracted anthrax, said Dr. James Hughes, CDC's infectious disease chief.

The anthrax threat "is not over by any stretch of the imagination," he said.

The idea is that a new attack of anthrax might be spread in some other way besides the mail. If such an attack was detected in a large number of animals first, health officials could rush antibiotics to humans who might have been exposed.

The scenario was described by some of CDC's top anthrax investigators, who gave doctors an update on the agency's bioterrorism response at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

The USDA has posted a note on its Web site reminding veterinarians of the symptoms of anthrax in animals - high fever, muscle tremors, trouble breathing and convulsions.