The number of laboratories, countries and states affected by a so-called inadvertent shipment of live anthrax from Dugway Proving Ground continues to expand, according to the Department of Defense.
Based on the website established by DOD to track updates on the live anthrax shipments, the number of affected labs has risen to 68, up from 51 a week ago. Two states have been added to those affected, bringing that total to 19 states and Washington, D.C.
The United Kingdom was added to the list of foreign countries that may have received live anthrax, joining South Korea, Australia and Canada. Federal, civilian and academic laboratories have all been affected by the shipments, DOD said in a release Monday.
The number of people who have been administered post-exposure prophylaxis as a precaution did not change from the 31 reported last week, according to DOD. There has still been no report of any cases of anthrax infection.
On June 3, DOD held a press conference that discussed the shipping methods for anthrax and the steps the department is taking to review its laboratory procedures when handling the biological agent.
DOD currently uses gamma radiation to kill live anthrax, which is composed of spores created by the bacillus anthracis bacteria, said Cmdr. Franca Jones, director of medical programs for DOD Chemical and Biological Defense. The anthrax is cultured for 10 days to monitor for growth or spore production.
If the sample is determined to be inert, it is prepped for shipping, Jones said. Anthrax samples are shipped as a liquid in one milliliter tubes, inside a plastic zip bag and polycarbonate container, she said. The containers are surrounded in dry ice and shipped in a cardboard box.
The anthrax is sent to labs working on biological weapon detectors and preventative measures like gloves and containment suits, Jones said. At least three other labs other than Dugway send out irradiated samples of formerly live anthrax in the U.S.: Fort Detrick, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center and the National Naval Medical Center, she said.