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Biosecurity News in Brief
Pentagon Releases Report on Response to March 2005 Anthrax IncidentsBy Clarence Lam, March 31, 2006 According to a March 24 Department of Defense (DoD) press release, the RAND Corporation delivered an assessment to the Pentagon on the department's response to three suspected anthrax incidents that occurred in March 2005.[1] The three incidents occurred at the Pentagon, the DoD Skyline Towers Facility in Fairfax County, Virginia, and a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) facility at Bolling Air Force Base. In the Pentagon incident, "failure to follow standard protocol" led to the discovery that samples provided to an independent contractor had tested positive for anthrax four days after the mail in question had been released for delivery from DoD's Remote Delivery Facility. In response, mail delivered to the Skyline Towers complex was collected and temporarily placed in a bio-cabinet. Airflow to the cabinet was restricted, which triggered an airflow alarm that was incorrectly interpreted as an indication of anthrax. In a separate incident several days later, a hazardous substance testing system erroneously indicated the presence of anthrax in samples taken from the DIA mail facility. Follow-up tests concluded that anthrax was not present in any of the incidents. However, poor communication and coordination during the response to the incidents raised concern about the state of U.S. preparedness for a biological attack.[2] According to the press release, the report concluded that the DoD's Remote Delivery Facility proved effective in separating and isolating possible contaminated mail, that Pentagon officials "made all the necessary notifications and connections with other agencies [upon learning of the negative test results]," and that the DoD performed "well in the public health response" following the incidents.[1] The report found that the "most significant area . . . identifie[d] as needing improvement is that of the speed and coordination of notification procedures."[1] According to Michael Donley, Director of Administration and Management for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, DoD is drafting new guidelines on notification procedures and incident command. In addition, guidelines on the handling of contaminated mail have been updated to require "three separate organizations . . . to be present and have a certified negative result for the release of mail."[1] Pentagon officials also pledged that "earlier notifications are now going to be made to the Department of Health and Human Services, Arlington County public health and other agencies when there is a confirmed positive, or ambiguous result that warrants further tests."[1] References
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