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Washington Biohazard Sensors Detect Tularemia
Biological agent sensors detected tularemia bacteria on the National Mall late last month during a weekend that saw both antiwar protests and a book fair, the Washington Post reported (see GSN, May 10). Health officials said the bacteria amounts were too small to be a threat to the crowds that assembled along the mall on Sept. 24. Federal officials notified authorities in Washington last week that tests “supported the presence of low levels” of tularemia. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the bacteria posed no threat. “We pretty much feel there is no public health threat here,” said CDC spokesman Von Roebuck, who added there were no reports of tularemia-related illnesses. “We just wanted to alert the medical community to watch out for cases.” D.C. Public Health Director Gregg Pane said that “the working hypothesis” is that the tularemia was natural. “Why that day? That's what is not explained,” he said. “It was just this 24-hour period and none since.” One official said the large crowds and dry conditions could have stirred up the bacteria (Weil/Levine, Washington Post I, Oct. 1). Federal officials are still testing the samples, but investigators said foul play was not believed to be involved in the presence of the bacteria, the Post reported. “There is no known nexus to terror or criminal behavior. We believe this to be environmental,” said Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the U.S. Homeland Security Department (Petula Dvorak, Washington Post II, Oct. 2).
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