Rare Germ Found in Washington D.C. during protest

Sept. 30, 2005 — A relatively rare biological agent has been detected in air filters serving Washington D.C. in recent weeks, ABC News has learned - but current evidence does not show any indication whatsoever of terrorism.

The federal government found six air filters around the nation’s capital checked on Sept. 24 and 25 contained "trace amounts" of tularemia, a type of bacteria.

The tests were conducted as part of routine homeland security procedures, in which selected air filters from around the nation’s capital are checked for chemical and biological agents.

Subsequent tests by the Centers for Disease Control confirmed low levels of the bacteria.

Tularemia causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills and muscle pain, but it is not generally considered life threatening. People who inhale the bacteria, however, can experience severe respiratory illness, including pneumonia and systemic infection if they are not treated, according to the CDC.

About 200 human cases of the disease are reported in the United States each year. The disease, also known as "rabbit fever," can be treated with several common antibiotics.

Tularemia is a naturally occurring disease typically transmitted by rodents and dead carcasses, and has been reported in the past in all U.S. states except Hawaii. Homeland security and FBI officials say no human illnesses have been reported, and that the health risk is low.

No additional traces have been detected since Sept. 24 and 25. One law enforcement official said drought conditions in Washington and heavy pedestrian traffic may have sent particles airborne. No biodefense sensors have gone off.

There are concerns about tularemia being used as a bioweapon, because it is highly infectious, and a small amount of bacteria can cause disease. It can remain alive for weeks in water and soil.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/Health...

Biohazard Sensors Triggered

Biohazard sensors showed the presence of small amounts of potentially dangerous tularemia bacteria in the Mall area last weekend as huge crowds assembled there, but health officials said they believed the levels were too low to be a threat.

Health authorities in the Washington area were notified yesterday that the bacteria were found in and near the area between the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, where crowds gathered Saturday for an antiwar rally and a book festival.

The notification, which came from federal health officials, said that after the initial detection, subsequent tests "supported the presence of low levels" of the bacteria. However, officials also said they did not believe the findings posed a health problem.

"We pretty much feel there is no public health threat here," said Von Roebuck, a spokesman for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noting that there have been no reports of tularemia, the disease that is caused by the bacteria. "We just wanted to alert the medical community to watch out for cases."

Health officials said the usual incubation period for tularemia is less than a week.

Roebuck said people who were on the Mall but who do not have symptoms need not be concerned.

Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, joint pain, dry cough and conjunctivitis.

Officials said the quantities detected were too small to have been an attack.

In nature, the bacteria are found in rodents and small animals, and "the working hypothesis" is that something in the environment got stirred up, D.C. Public Health Director Gregg A. Pane said.

But he said it was puzzling that the finding was from a day when the Mall was packed with people.

"Why that day? That’s what is not explained," Pane said. "It was just this 24-hour period and none since."

At least one official suggested that so many people on the Mall might have triggered the alert, since dry conditions would have made it easier to raise dust.

Tularemia is not spread from person to person. It can be contracted by direct contact with the bacteria that cause it — by swallowing them or, if they have been suspended in air, through inhalation.

The germ that causes tularemia is considered a biohazard because it is highly infectious and was tested in the 1960s by the United States as a biological weapon. The disease is treatable with antibiotics but, if left untreated, can be fatal.

The country has spent more than $200 million to install the sensor system known as BioWatch in more than 30 U.S. cities. Samples from sensors are collected daily to check for pathogens such as those that cause anthrax, smallpox or plague.

More than a half-dozen sensors operating from 10 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday — at sites including the Lincoln Memorial, Fort McNair and Judiciary Square — detected the bacteria, Pane said he was told.

He said the CDC expected to notify hospitals nationwide as a precaution because so many people came from out of town to the Mall last weekend.

Similarly, he said, he expected area health officials to watch for symptoms into next week.

Authorities recommend that people who visited the Mall between 10 a.m. Sept. 24 and 10 a.m. Sept. 25 should see a physician if they experience symptoms.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...

interesting comments from Democratic Underground

That is weird...I am a wildlife rehabber and specialize in wild rabbits. It is not easily spread and to find it in filters is an major anomaly.

VERY CORRECT, Mojorabbit.
We veterinarians have all been advised in writing and given a poster to refer to regarding potential bioterrorism agents of veterinary importance, and it also covers those zoonotic diseases with bioterrorism potential. TULAREMIA IS ONE OF THEM. This needs to be taken EXTREMELY seriously. I have to look at the cart and check my files tomorrow at work and will see what else I turn up. I am very concerned for the people who were in DC for the protest. This is not something that has ANY BUSINESS AT ALL being in air filters in a major metropolitan area. This is a rabbit pathogen. FYI: I hold a BS in Microbiology in addition to my DVM.

How available would it be if someone wanted to get the pathogen? I wouldn’t think it would be available to just anyone and rabbits as a rule don’t just run loose in a metropolitan area.

I think anybody who went to the DC or any of the other protests on Sep 24 should be alert to the possibility of tularemia having been used as a weapon against them. If you went to any of these protests and develop respiratory ilness, seek medical attantion promptly and advise your physician of the tularemia in DC situation so they can conduct appropriate tests.

What a scary coincidence...Tularemia is one of the bioterrorism agents being studied/developed in the govt-funded bioterrorism labs of Tulane (NOLA) and LSU (Baton Rouge).

A few related links on the Tularemia labs of NOLA and Baton Rouge:
http://www.newsbanner.com/articles/...
http://bizneworleans.com/109+M5bb1016b13d.html
http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001351.html
http://www.labdesignnews.com/Labora...
http://news.surfwax.com/health/files/Tularemia.html

I think the comment "no terrorism fears" should be considered DISINFORMATION. Tularemia is widely acknowledged to be a GREAT candidate for bioterrorism use. That’s why we veterinarians have been warned about it. And yes, I think the timing of their tests is certainly convenient. How often do they test for these things? Where are the filters located? When were those same filters last tested? I have a LOT of questions about this little tidbit.

If a person caught tularemia in the west, could the person contaminate the air filters? Several months ago, we had 2 people in NYC with bubonic plague. They had caught it in a normal location (Arizona or similar), and wound up in the hospital here. We also had someone die in Queens of Hanta virus, but he had contracted it elsewhere. So, if a contaminated person went to Washington, would he have enough germs to contaminate the air filters?

IMHO, not a chance in hell. It does not spread from person-to-person via the respiratory tract as far as I know, unlike PLAGUE. I think they used it on the protestors. To kill. I have said panic is not warranted, but that people need to be aware of possible exposure to a bioweapon so they can get appropriate diagnostics and treatment if they have symptoms of tularemia. I am MAD AS HELL about this, and do not believe it to be a coincidence. I believe it is deliberate. I’m a microbiologist and veterinarian. I do not panic over germs. I take appropriate action.
Here’s what I find especially interesting:
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/tularemia/faq.asp
Q. Why are we concerned about tularemia being used as a bioweapon?
A. Francisella tularensis is highly infectious. A small number of bacteria (10-50 organisms) can cause disease. If Francisella tularensis were used as a bioweapon, the bacteria would likely be made airborne so they could be inhaled. People who inhale the bacteria can experience severe respiratory illness, including life-threatening pneumonia and systemic infection, if they are not treated.

"IF F. TULARENSIS WERE USED AS A BIOWEAPON, THE BACTERIA WOULD LIKELY BE MADE AIRBORNE SO THEY COULD BE INHALED."

OK i’m moderately concerned 4 1/2 days from when I left DC I get an almost instant sore throat, chills, aches, and respitory problems. Sweated my sheets soaked last night too. We need to keep track of people who went to the march.

My friend has the symptoms of this illness. He’s never sick and now he’s got painful mouth ulcers. The onset was a week after the march. It’s too much of a coincidence.

I Was In WashDC Yesterday and!!!!!!!!!!! Last night on the flight back to Seattle I was having a little difficulty breathing. I visited the Capitol, Lincoln Memorial and the Whitehouse. Even though WDC has had a couple of days of rain could there be some residual leftover?

anyone else sick since the protests? I just came down with a flu/sorethroat/cold after just getting over the same a week ago.
4 1/2 days from when I left DC I get an almost instant sore throat, chills, aches, and respitory problems. Sweated my sheets soaked last night too. We need to keep track of people who went to the march.

I have 3 friends who went to DC and now have the "flu" Not jumping on the alarmist bandwagon, just stating a fact.

My son has had really awful cold. Wiped out for two days after.
I haven’t been sick. Hmm, this is interesting.I’m not a Tin Foil Hat Person.... but ... ya jes nevah know... huh?