After an Anthrax scare in Northern Virginia yesterday, Gov. James S. Gilmore III announced that Virginia hospitals would be on alert for any dramatic increase in patients with Anthrax symptoms.
A Prince William County man complaining of chest pains and confusion was tested for Anthrax yesterday after officials discovered the building where he works is owned by American Media Inc. This is the same company in Boca Raton, Fla., where one man died and another was diagnosed with Anthrax.
The 40-year-old Northern Virginia man, whose name has not been released, tested negative yesterday.
"The key is not to be panicked," said Trina Lee, a public relations coordinator for the Virginia Department of Health.
The initial symptoms of Anthrax infection include respiratory failure and flu-like symptoms.
Lee said that information on the disease is available at the Virginia Department of Health Web site.
"The best way to curb fear is to educate people," said Janet Clements, director of public affairs for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. "The more people understand about Anthrax, the more they'll realize that the likelihood of widespread infection is very low."
The University Hospital has remained relatively unaffected by the recent Anthrax scare.
"We haven't had any patients come in worried that they are infected with Anthrax," said Marguerite Beck, director of Health System media relations.
But hospitals across the country are taking precautionary measures in light of the recent events in Virginia and Florida.
The Anthrax scare began in Florida when 63-year-old Bob Stevens died from exposure to Anthrax on Oct. 5. Stevens was a photo editor for the Sun, a tabloid newspaper owned by American Media Inc.
Another man who worked in the same Lantana, Fla. building as Stevens also tested positive for the disease when Anthrax spores were found in his nasal passages.
The Sun, along with the National Enquirer, have offices in the same building.
The FBI currently is investigating the two cases to locate the source of the disease.
The issue has received special attention because Anthrax is a potential agent for biological terrorism.
Investigators also are reviewing the subscritption lists for both tabloid magazines to try to determine the origin of the Anthrax bacteria.
Two of the subscribers' names are similar to the names of two hijackers involved in the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon.
"Anthrax has its advantages and disadvantages from a terrorism standpoint," said Dr. Rick Greenwald, chief medical officer of at Boca Raton Community Hospital, several miles from where Stevens worked. The hospital has seen floods of American Media Inc. employees coming in to be tested for the bacteria.
"Anthrax is relatively easy to obtain, and it's reasonably stable outside the body, unlike some more deadly viral agents," Greenwald said. "However, it's difficult to disperse widely."
Greenwald stressed that Anthrax cannot be transmitted between humans and must be inhaled.
Because the initial symptoms are similar to less deadly infections, many emergency rooms are experiencing an influx of patients concerned that they might be infected.
"We've had a huge influx of calls from people with no direct exposure to the site of the first infection," Greenwald said. "We've established 'Anthrax hotlines' for people who are concerned because we're so close to where the first infection occurred."
One reason for the heavy concern is that the initial symptoms are similar to other less deadly diseases.
Anthrax is caused by spores produced by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. The disease most commonly infects large livestock, such as cattle, sheep and goats, but can be contracted by humans as well.
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