France: Anthrax laboratory accident Pro-med RFI

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?..._ID:1000,76800

Archive Number 20090329.1215
Published Date 29-MAR-2009
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax, laboratory exposure - France: RFI

ANTHRAX, LABORATORY EXPOSURE - FRANCE: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
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Date: 26 Mar 2009
Source: Actualites News Environment [in French, trans. MHJ, edited]
<http://www.actualites-news-environnement.com/20029-laboratoire-afssa-contamine-anthrax-bacille-charbon.html>


An Afssa [Agence francaise de securite sanitaire des aliments]
laboratory is contaminated with _Bacillus anthracis_; 5 laboratory
workers have been placed in isolation in a hospital at Maison-Alfort
after being in contact with the bacillus. The incident occurred at
the laboratory, which works in conjunction with the National
reference lab for anthrax (Centre national de reference charbon (CNR
charbon)) located in the Pasteur Institute. CNR charbon carries out
epidemiologic surveillance on anthrax and characterizes the isolates
from cases and outbreaks.

[Byline: Nadja Nasdala]

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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

[This report does not give any information on the nature of this
exposure in a laboratory studying animal pathology and zoonotic
infections. One can only guess what happened. Speculatively, someone
might have dropped a glass container with a liquid culture, and the
fear is that this produced an aerosol in the room. A properly
designed laboratory should have negative air pressure [with
high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters] so that what happens
in the laboratory stays in the laboratory. Hopefully, the medical
authorities took nasal swabs to determine which of the workers were
in fact exposed. We look forward to seeing a more definitive account
of the events and the nature of the exposure. - Mod.MHJ]

[Another report at the same URL states the 5 laboratory workers have
been released from isolation. - Mod.JW]

[see also:
2008
----
Anthrax, human - Germany ex France (02) 20081213.3924
Anthrax, human - Germany ex France 20081211.3897
Anthrax, bovine - France (02): (Doubs) 20080821.2609
Anthrax, bovine - France: (Doubs) 20080818.2572]
..........................................np/jw/mhj/msp/jw

[Sally Furniss]

Re: France: Anthrax laboratory accident Pro-med RFI

L'Agence fran?aise de s?curit? sanitaire des aliments (AFSSA) announced the establishment of a cell after one of its laboratories have been contaminated with anthrax after handling an error. The floor of Cr?teil opened an investigation for "endangering the lives of others."

L'Agence fran?aise de s?curit? sanitaire des aliments (AFSSA) set up a crisis due to accidental contamination to anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) occurred Tuesday in one of its laboratories in Maisons-Alfort in the Val - de-Marne. At least five people were placed in isolation. None of the laboratory covered by relief showed no symptoms.

The AFSSA is responsible for assessing the risks and health benefits and nutrition, to recommend measures to protect the health, conduct and promote research at national level to ensure the standard for laboratories and intelligence, surveillance and warning and to conduct training activities and information. Handling this accident would have occurred in the Laboratoire d'?tudes et de recherches en pathologie animale et zoonoses of the Agency, a unit employing 140 people.

The five potentially contaminated people were isolated before they individually evacuated and hospitalized at the Hospital Piti?-Salp?tri?re in Paris.

Anthrax is an animal poisoning transmissible to humans. It is a zoonotic disease primarily of ruminants can be transmitted to humans by spores or contaminated meat.

http://www.continentalnews.fr/actualite/sante,7/contamination-a-l-anthrax-dans-un-laboratoire-de-l-afssa,6293.html