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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/20/cdc-anthrax-scare-breach-protocol
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| CDC blames anthrax scare on 'breach of protocol' | CDC blames anthrax scare on 'breach of protocol' |
| (3 days later) | |
| A "breach of protocol" may have unintentionally exposed 84 Atlanta-based employees of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to anthrax, the agency confirmed on Friday. | A "breach of protocol" may have unintentionally exposed 84 Atlanta-based employees of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to anthrax, the agency confirmed on Friday. |
| Last Friday, dozens of scientists and staff working in lower-security clearance labs in Atlanta were notified that they may have been exposed to live bacteria, after bioterrorism researchers at the agency mistakenly sent the potentially deadly pathogen to their colleagues. | Last Friday, dozens of scientists and staff working in lower-security clearance labs in Atlanta were notified that they may have been exposed to live bacteria, after bioterrorism researchers at the agency mistakenly sent the potentially deadly pathogen to their colleagues. |
| "This was simply a breach of protocol," said CDC spokesman Benjamin Haynes in an email on Friday. "The protocol calls for inactive anthrax to be slided and observed after 48 hours to see if spores develop. This particular sample was checked and sent to lower-level labs after 24 hours." | "This was simply a breach of protocol," said CDC spokesman Benjamin Haynes in an email on Friday. "The protocol calls for inactive anthrax to be slided and observed after 48 hours to see if spores develop. This particular sample was checked and sent to lower-level labs after 24 hours." |
| The lower-security clearance labs are not equipped to handle the live anthrax bacteria. And employees, believing the samples to be harmless, were not wearing the proper protective gear for handling the active bacteria, the CDC said. The two staff members most closely involved with the incident received immediate medical attention on 13 June, when the exposure was discovered, Haynes said. | |
| He said that as of Thursday afternoon, the agency's Occupational Health Clinic had seen 54 of the 84 employees who were notified. Among them, all but two of the scientists who visited the clinic were taking oral antibiotic treatment, and roughly half had opted for the anthrax vaccine. | He said that as of Thursday afternoon, the agency's Occupational Health Clinic had seen 54 of the 84 employees who were notified. Among them, all but two of the scientists who visited the clinic were taking oral antibiotic treatment, and roughly half had opted for the anthrax vaccine. |
| Anthrax is the most likely agent to be used in a biological attack because it only takes a small amount to infect a large number of people, according to the CDC website. All types of anthrax, if untreated, have the potential to spread throughout the body and cause severe illness and even death. | Anthrax is the most likely agent to be used in a biological attack because it only takes a small amount to infect a large number of people, according to the CDC website. All types of anthrax, if untreated, have the potential to spread throughout the body and cause severe illness and even death. |
| "Based on most of the potential exposure scenarios, the risk of infection is very low," the CDC's statement said. | "Based on most of the potential exposure scenarios, the risk of infection is very low," the CDC's statement said. |
| It adds: "Out of an abundance of caution, CDC is taking aggressive steps to protect the health of all involved, including providing protective courses of antibiotics for potentially exposed staff." | It adds: "Out of an abundance of caution, CDC is taking aggressive steps to protect the health of all involved, including providing protective courses of antibiotics for potentially exposed staff." |
| All known workers who may have been exposed were notified and advised to visit the agency's clinic or their personal physician. They are being offered antibiotics, the first line of defense against anthrax, as well as anthrax vaccinations, Haynes said. Anthrax is not contagious, and therefore it is believed that other CDC staff, family members and the general public are not at risk of exposure. | All known workers who may have been exposed were notified and advised to visit the agency's clinic or their personal physician. They are being offered antibiotics, the first line of defense against anthrax, as well as anthrax vaccinations, Haynes said. Anthrax is not contagious, and therefore it is believed that other CDC staff, family members and the general public are not at risk of exposure. |
| He said none of the employees who have been contacted are showing signs or symptoms of having anthrax, although it can take days or even months to appear. | He said none of the employees who have been contacted are showing signs or symptoms of having anthrax, although it can take days or even months to appear. |
| Scientists in the CDC's Bioterror Rapid Response and Advanced Technology lab were trying out a new protocol for inactivating anthrax, using chemicals instead of radiation. The lab's procedure, however, did not properly inactivate the samples, which were then sent to the lower labs. An investigation is in progress. | Scientists in the CDC's Bioterror Rapid Response and Advanced Technology lab were trying out a new protocol for inactivating anthrax, using chemicals instead of radiation. The lab's procedure, however, did not properly inactivate the samples, which were then sent to the lower labs. An investigation is in progress. |
| On 12 June, a day before the exposure was discovered, the CDC tweeted a link to an animated video explaining what to do in the event of an anthrax exposure – not knowing then, of course, it was their own scientists who needed the advice. | On 12 June, a day before the exposure was discovered, the CDC tweeted a link to an animated video explaining what to do in the event of an anthrax exposure – not knowing then, of course, it was their own scientists who needed the advice. |
| Ever wondered what you’d need to do if you were exposed to anthrax? Watch this new animation to find out: http://t.co/p4lnCU8x15. | Ever wondered what you’d need to do if you were exposed to anthrax? Watch this new animation to find out: http://t.co/p4lnCU8x15. |
| Reuters contributed to this report. | Reuters contributed to this report. |
| • This article was amended on 23 June 2014 because an earlier version referred to anthrax as a virus. This has been corrected. |