Case 17 CONFIRMED
Characteristics 56-year-old man, employed as postal supervisor
Onset date October 16, 2001
Medical care date October 20, 2001
MMWR date 50 (42), Oct. 26, 2001
Location Brentwood Mail Center, Washington DC
Probable source Daschle or Leahy letters postmarked October 9
Disease type Inhalational anthrax
Details On October 20, a second postal worker who worked at the same distribution center, was admitted to the hospital with a 3-day history of progressively worsening headache and night sweats. He had no fever, stiff neck, or other symptoms or signs consistent with meningitis. He had a mild sore throat and occasional dry cough. Because the patient was linked epidemiologically to the index case of inhalational anthrax, a chest radiograph and chest CT scan were performed that revealed mediastinal lymphadenopathy and a right middle lobe infiltrate. Antimicrobial therapy was initiated. Blood cultures grew B. anthracis within 18 hours. The patient is clinically stable and remains hospitalized (was discharged November 9, 2001).

Click for clinical details (Emerging Inf Diseases)

Click for clinical details (.pdf file, JAMA, patient 2)

Click for clinical details (Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Anthrax case 3)

Click for news account of hospital discharge (11/14/01)

Click for news account of comparative medical care (11/27/01)

Click for MMWR account of Brentwood postal facility anthrax testing (12/21/01)

Click for six-month follow-up of inhalational anthrax cases (4/20/02)

Click for mention of "George Fairfax" (anonymous name) (8/26/02)
Death date Not applicable