Contact: Mary Anderson, 240-777-6534
For Immediate Release: November 1, 2001

Duncan, County and Federal Health
Officials Discuss FDA, Shady Grove Postal
Facility Test Results

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan announced today that County health officials are working closely with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to closely monitor the results of preliminary test results that showing the presence of anthrax at four FDA mailrooms located at facilities in Rockville, Montgomery County; and are prepared to provide whatever assistance may be needed.

Duncan also announced that test results from the Suburban Maryland Processing and Distribution Center in Gaithersburg are negative for the presence of anthrax. County public health workers administered preventive antibiotic treatment to more than 800 postal workers at the facility last week while final test results were confirmed. The Shady Grove facility took over a portion of the mail handling of the Brentwood postal facility in the District. “We are pleased that the test results have come back negative,” said Duncan. “The results will help alleviate some of the concerns of workers at that facility.”

“We are working closely with the Centers for Disease Control, the FDA and other federal agencies in Montgomery County and are prepared to provide whatever assistance is necessary,” said Duncan. “It is important to note that there have been no confirmed cases of inhalation or cutaneous anthrax in Montgomery County and there are currently no patients in Montgomery County hospitals being monitored for possible exposure.”

Duncan was joined by Dr. Carol Garvey, County health officer; Lynn Frank, chief of Public Health Services; and Dr. Patrick Meehan, director, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Service for the National Center for Environmental Health at the federal Centers for Disease Control.

Duncan also announced a new hotline for Montgomery County physicians and a broadcast fax list to immediately notify members of the health care community of new developments related to bioterrorism and anthrax. In addition, Duncan sent a letter today to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson asking that Montgomery County and other jurisdictions in close proximity to the District of Columbia be given priority in receiving flu vaccine supplies.

Montgomery County’s bioterrorism information line has been handling an average of 300 phone calls per day since it opened two weeks ago. Taped information about anthrax and other biological agents is available 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week and a staff of emergency medical and public health professionals are available to speak directly to callers each day between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The telephone number is 240-777-4200.

The County also opened a walk-in health risk assessment center to provide counseling and education for Montgomery County citizens concerned about anthrax and other biological agents. The risk assessment center has seen more than 200 people since it opened last week.