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Tests indicate that one postal worker stationed at the West Trenton
post office in Ewing Township has been confirmed as a definite case
of cutaneous (skin) anthrax in testing conducted by the federal
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A second postal
worker from the Route 130 Mail Processing Center in Hamilton Township
is considered by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to be a confirmed
case at this time. A third worker from the Route 130 Mail Processing
facility is considered to be a suspect case at this time. All three
patients have been treated with antibiotics.
The
source of the anthrax exposure is still being investigated, but
it is possible that the employees may have been exposed while handling
an envelope that was postmarked either September 18 or October 9,
2001, and that passed through the main mail processing center in
Hamilton Township.
Antibiotic
Prophylaxis: Recommendations
Because
of a low risk of exposure, the New Jersey Department of Health and
Senior Services (DHSS) is recommending that all persons who have
worked at the main mail processing center in Hamilton Township or
the West Trenton Post Office in Ewing Township on or after September
18, 2001, be treated with antibiotics (Table 1) for 7 days
(see update: 10/25/01)
as a precaution while the criminal and health investigation of potential
anthrax exposures at the two facilities progresses. Results of the
clinical and environmental testing conducting in the DHSS lab, as
well as other information gathered during the on-going investigation,
will impact what additional measures are needed to ensure the health
and safety of postal employees and visitors to the facilities.
Please
refer to the state's "Biological
Threat Evaluation Guidelines for Health Care Providers"
for additional information regarding treating of patients.
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