NH Gal Gets Anthrax from Playing BONGO Drums

Guess this means you can maybe catch it from wearing (or even touching) leather products? Hummmm.

ANTHRAX, HUMAN - USA: (NEW HAMPSHIRE)
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Date: 7 Jan 2010
Source: Concord Monitor/AP [edited]



A woman who was in critical condition with an extremely rare form of
anthrax is improving and is no longer in intensive care, a state
health official said yesterday [6 Jan 2010].

The young woman from Strafford County became ill with
gastrointestinal anthrax in early December 2009 and is being treated
in a Boston hospital. Authorities still are investigating how she
became infected but believe the most likely scenario is that she
swallowed anthrax spores propelled into the air by drums at a
gathering in Durham last month [December 2009].

Two of the 64 animal skin drums used during the United Campus
Ministry center's 4 Dec 2009 drum circle have tested positive for
anthrax, as has an electrical outlet in the building. 52 other drums
tested negative, and the other 10 will be tested today [7 Jan 2010],
said Dr. Elizabeth Talbot, adviser to the state Department of Health
and Human Services.

Two recent U.S. anthrax cases also were traced to drums covered with
animal hides, but those involved spores that were either inhaled into
the lungs or entered through the skin of patients who were exposed
while making drums. The gastrointestinal form usually occurs after
eating raw or under cooked contaminated meat.

Testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed
that the strain of anthrax found on the drums and outlet matched the
patient's strain. Talbot said the strain in question is a very common
one worldwide, and authorities can't pinpoint where it came from. She
said there is no obvious link between the 2 infected drums, which
aren't the same type or age. The origins of the animal hides aren't
clear, Talbot said.

Investigators with the state Department of Environmental Services and
federal Environmental Protection Agency planned to conduct more
testing today [7 Jan 2010] at the campus ministry center, which has
been closed during the investigation. Talbot said officials have
contacted 52 of the approximately 60 people who attended the drum
circle, and several have taken the state up on its offer of
antibiotics and vaccinations.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[It is good to read that this young woman is out of intensive care.
It has been a worrying time.

This woman was apparently exposed on 4 Dec 2009 at a drumming
session. Considering the inherent dangers in oral antibiotics and the
moderate persisting risk, the attendees would be wiser to go for
vaccination. This would have the additional advantage of protecting
them during drumming meetings over the next 12-18 months, something
that antibiotics would certainly not do.

Clarification is being sought on the genomic nature of the isolates
and the problems of locating them. - Mod.MHJ]

[see also:
2009
----
Anthrax, human - USA (03): (NH) 20091230.4390
Anthrax, human - USA (02): (NH) 20091229.4374
Anthrax, human - USA: (NH) 20091227.4360]
..............................................mhj/msp/dk

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