Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

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March 15, 2002

"CDC Studies Anthrax Case at Testing Lab in Texas"

Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) (03/14/02) P. B6

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is continuing to investigate the case of a lab technician who was diagnosed with cutaneous anthrax, a skin form of the disease, on March 4.  The technician is employed at a private Texas lab that is helping the CDC test thousands of environmental samples collected after last fall's bioterror attack.  An investigation has been ongoing since the lab informed the agency of the incident on March 6.  A CDC spokesman said he was unaware of where the lab samples came from and noted that the agency has kept the man's identity secret to protect his privacy.  Five people died from the deadlier inhalation form of anthrax last year, after being exposed to letters contaminated with anthrax spores.

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