Cases of anthrax

Cases of human anthrax are very rare in industrialized countries, though the bacteria is widespread in nature. Exposure to tens of thousands of spores are necessary for infection. Anthrax is not contagious.

The United States had only had 18 cases of pulmonary anthrax reported in the last 100 years prior to the 2001 anthrax attack..

2001 anthrax attack

As of Nov. 21, 2001, 19 cases of anthrax had occurred in the U.S. - 11 cases of inhalation and 8 cutaneous cases. Five deaths have occurred.

Died

October 5: Robert Stevens, 63, contracted pulmonary anthrax and died. Exposed at American Media offices, Boca Raton.

October 23: confirmation that two postal handlers died of pulmonary anthrax. The men were identified as Joseph P. Curseen, 47, and Thomas L. Morris Jr., 55.

October 31: Kathy Nguyen, 61, a New York City hospital worker dies of anthrax.

November 21: Ottilie Lungren, an almost housebound Connecticut woman dies of inhalation anthrax. She was 94 years old.

Infected

Ernesto Blanco[?], contracted pulmonary anthrax. Exposed at American Media offices, Boca Raton.

Erin O'Connor[?], contracted cutaneous anthrax. Exposed at NBC offices, New York.

Unidentified baby boy, contracted cutaneous anthrax, presumably at ABC news office, New York.

Unidentified female CBS employee, contracted cutaneous anthrax, presumably at CBS offices, New York.

Unidentified postal employee, contracted cutaneous anthrax, presumably at Hamilton Township postal facility, New Jersey.

Unidentified lab employee in Texas, contracted cutaneous anthrax

Exposed Thousands of people took antibiotics because of suspected anthrax exposure or as a precaution. These include postal workers in at least 5 states as well as workers in US government offices in Washington, DC.

Stephanie Dailey[?], exposed to anthrax at American Media offices[?].

Five additional employees at American Media were exposed.

Two New York lab technicians and a policeman were exposed while investigating the NBC case.

Thirty-one people at the Capitol complex in Washington D.C., including two police officers, were exposed.