Chronology of Anthrax Events in September, 2001

Envelopes containing letters and granular substances are sent to NBC News in New York and the New York Post. Both are mailed from Trenton, New Jersey.

Johanna Huden, editorial page assistant at New York Post, opens letters to the editor and notices blister on her finger (case 1). She later tests positive for skin form of anthrax and was informed on October 18.

Erin O'Connor (case 2), assistant to NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw in New York, notices a skin lesion on her collarbone. The diagnosis of cutaneous anthrax was made on October 12.

Richard Morgano (case 3), maintenance worker at Trenton, New Jersey regional post office in Hamilton, N.J., visits physician to have skin lesion on arm treated.  While his doctors were suspicious of anthrax, no diagnosis was made until October 18 when reported to CDC and blood testing occurred.

Teresa Heller (case 4), letter carrier at West Trenton, New Jersey post office, develops lesion on her arm.

Bob Stevens (case 5) photo editor at supermarket tabloid The Sun in Boca Raton, Florida starts to feel ill with inhalation anthrax.  His condition was confirmed at autopsy on October 6.

Casey Chamberlain (case 6), another assistant to NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw in New York, observes skin lesion on her leg. Her condition was classified by CDC on October 25 as “suspicious or probable" for cutaneous anthrax.

Ernesto Blanco (case 7), an American Media Inc. (AMI) mailroom employee in Boca Raton, Florida develops inhalation anthrax and is hospitalized two days later with pneumonia.  He was diagnosed on October 7.

The 7-month-old son of Carol Simpson's producer at ABC (case 8) develops a rash soon after spending time at the network offices in Manhattan, New York.  The child is hospitalized with an unknown ailment, later reported on October 15 as cutaneous anthrax.

Source: Modification of table in Sun-Sentinel News, December, 2001.