BioterrorismAnthrax exposure prompts FBI investigation

Government health officials are currently investigating a case of anthrax exposure in Minnesota after tests confirmed that an individual hospitalized there had been infected with the dangerous bacteria.

Due to the deadly nature of anthrax and its use as a biological weapon, the FBI joined Minnesota health officials in investigating the matter.

Officials have concluded that the hospitalized individual became infected naturally after encountering it during his travels. The individual had travelled through several western states including Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota, before becoming admitted for treatment in Minnesota.

Ruth Lynfield, an epidemiologist with the state of Minnesota, concluded that “All evidence points to this case of anthrax being caused by exposure to naturally occurring anthrax in the environment.”

The individual had been exposed to soil and animal remains where the anthrax bacteria can grow. The bacteria has been known to develop in hooved animals each year in certain areas around the United States like the Midwest and West.

The FBI determined that there was no evidence to suggest that the individual was infected as part of a criminal or terrorist act and the agency is no longer actively investigating the incident.

Health officials were careful to note that the public need not worry about potential anthrax exposure as these cases are extremely rare.

Health officials stressed that the case does not represent an increased risk of anthrax for the public. “Anthrax is not spread from person to person, and it is extremely rare for humans to become sickened with anthrax, especially through inhalation,” Lynfield said.

Only in rare cases do individuals become infected with anthrax by handling infected animal carcasses or ingest contaminated soil or meat from infected animals. People can also become infected by handling contaminated wool or hides from infected animals, which is why it was once called “woolsorter’s disease.”

Due to the extremely rare nature of this occurrence, health officials are not issuing any travel warnings for people visiting these areas.