Living in a small town, one doesn’t worry much about a terrorist attack near home. When a local resident is diagnosed with anthrax, however, the thought of terrorists and biological weapons is naturally one’s first thought.
NH Anthrax Case Believed to be Naturally Occurring
On December 26th, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced that they are investigating the source of a case of anthrax contracted by a woman from Strafford County, New Hampshire, the small town in which I live with my family. The DHHS has said that it thinks the anthrax that this woman contracted was “naturally occurring.” Indeed, the type of anthrax that she has contracted, gastrointestinal anthrax is not the version we most often associate with the weaponized form of the anthrax. Weaponized anthrax is generally refined to make the deadly spores more readily airborne and inhaled. This is much easier to spread, harder to confine, and generally results in inhalation anthrax.
Anthrax Contagion Sources
DHHS authorities say that anthrax is does not generally transfer from person to person regardless of the form contracted. The most usual source of anthrax spores is animal hides. Anthrax can occur naturally in the coats of some thickly furred animals, such as goats, although it is not normally present in North American animals. From the information provided by DHHS, it looks as though other New Hampshire residents have little to fear from this lone case of anthrax in Strafford County. The woman who is suffering from this case of gastrointestinal anthrax, however, is in critical condition her prognosis was not immediately available.
NH Officials Search for Anthrax Source
DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumas said “This is a difficult and unusual situation, and we are committing all possible resources to determining the cause of this exposure as quickly as possible.” The current belief is that the anthrax may have come from an African Drum that the victim is known to have used at a University of New Hampshire Campus Ministries African drummers circle events held from October through December. Local television station WMUR is reporting that Department of Public Health and Safety (DPHS) officials are suggesting that any drummers who attended those events should call them to inquire about having their African drums tested for the presence of anthrax. The number to call is (603) 271-4496. According to the report hazardous materials field teams were checking the building in which the events were held to ensure that there is no lingering contamination.
Previous Anthrax cases in New Hampshire
It is not clear at this point which drum if any that were used at the event was contaminated with anthrax. The victim had apparently used several drums owned by other drummers during the once a month event. African drums made with animal hides have been implicated in several previous cases of anthrax in the United States, although WMUR reports that there have been no cases in New Hampshire since 1957 when 9 people contracted the disease at a textile mill.
Gastrointestinal anthrax can be fatal. Symptoms begin with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and fever followed by abdominal pain, vomiting blood and severe diarrhea. Gastrointestinal anthrax can take from 3-60 days to incubate and begin producing symptoms.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Press release. Retrieved from www.dhhs.nh.gov/NR/rdonlyres/e6dwsht2gy4h7g6hh2c5qe5mikdmcp6eob3f7ujen4sczc4mra2dz4aztlo3amg372fdd372s44qccmmvoatmwdcs3e/anthrax.pdf on December 27, 2009.
WMUR Channel 9 television. Retrieved from wmur.com/news/22062654/detail.html on December 27, 2009.
NOTE: The author of this article lives in the small town of Strafford, New Hampshire with his family, but does not personally know the victim.