Airborne infection with Bacillus anthracis--from mills to mail

• Published in: Emerging infectious diseases Vol. 10; no. 6; pp. 996 - 1001
• Main Authors: Fennelly, Kevin P, Davidow, Amy L, Miller, Shelly L, Connell, Nancy, Ellner, Jerrold J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01.06.2004; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: Air Microbiology; Anthrax; Anthrax - microbiology; Anthrax - transmission; Bacillus anthracis; Bacillus anthracis - pathogenicity; Female; Humans; Infection; Inhalation Exposure; Lethal Dose 50; Male; Models, Biological; Occupational Exposure; Risk; Spores, Bacterial; Ventilation
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid1006.020738

The lack of identified exposures in 2 of the 11 cases of bioterrorism-related inhalation anthrax in 2001 raised uncertainty about the infectious dose and transmission of Bacillus anthracis. We used the Wells-Riley mathematical model of airborne infection to estimate 1) the exposure concentrations in postal facilities where cases of inhalation anthrax occurred and 2) the risk for infection in various hypothetical scenarios of exposure to B. anthracis aerosolized from contaminated mail in residential settings. These models suggest that a small number of cases of inhalation anthrax can be expected when large numbers of persons are exposed to low concentrations of B. anthracis. The risk for inhalation anthrax is determined not only by bacillary virulence factors but also by infectious aerosol production and removal rates and by host factors.