A student walked into the Portland campus health office last week looking for smallpox vaccine.
No one could help the woman, as the government stopped producing the vaccine over 25 years ago when it was believed the very deadly and contagious disease had been eradicated.
But that student is not alone in her fears.
As new cases of anthrax pop up around the country, University health officials report an increase in the number of students seeking services on campus. The students are suffering from a variety of symptoms including anxiety and insomnia.
“I’m struggling like anybody with anxiety about these retaliations,” said Pamela Clay-Storm, a registered nurse on the Portland campus. “There’s no way to know if there’s a serious risk. We can’t assume anything.”
Despite the rampant fear, University officials say they feel prepared in the unlikely event of a biological attack at USM.
“I feel confident our physicians will recognize any symptoms and the city and state are as prepared as they can be,” said Jane Coolidge, director of University Health Services.
“Maybe I’m na?ve, but I really don’t feel there’s anything we can’t handle,” she said.
University Health Services is offering help to those suffering from anxiety, but isn’t prescribing antibiotics to treat anthrax to help put people at ease.
While health professionals at USM haven’t received any specific training on identifying or treating anthrax, Coolidge said her staff is paying close attention.
“The most important thing we can do is be vigilant,” she said. “Clinicians are alert to anything unusual.”
And while Coolidge and those on the front line are staying alert, the administration and other state officials are busy developing protocols for exactly what they would do in the case of a biological attack.
“We’re still developing how we’d respond to this sort of thing,” said USM Police Chief Lisa Beecher. “We’ve never had to deal with something like this, so it’s kind of a learn-as-you-go kind of thing.”
Beecher said she’s currently involved in conversations to develop a new University protocol should a worst-case scenario happen.
So far there’s been at least one scare.
Last week a suspicious letter was reported on the Portland campus. While there weren’t any obvious signs of danger such as powder or wires, the letter had been sent from out of the country (Canada) and didn’t have a return address.
Two USM police officers responded immediately. They eventually decided to deal with the matter themselves. They opened the letter inside a plastic bag and determined it was safe.
The University’s plan to deal with more serious threats depends largely on city and state authorities.
“First, we’d notify the fire department,” said Beecher. “They’re the ones who are equipped with biohazard equipment and knowledge.”
The fire department would then likely contact the police and the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).
MEMA, which has already developed a “Maine Unknown Substance Threat Assessment” plan, would coordinate further action.
If the threat were deemed serious enough, MEMA would contact a special civil support team based in Waterville, which is equipped with the necessary biohazard suits to deal with threats like anthrax. MEMA would also have the material tested at the Maine Bureau of Health’s Augusta lab.
The Maine Bureau of Health would only get involved if the material tested positive.
“We would contact everyone we could, using media, etc. to try to reach everyone who had exposure,” said Diane Williams, an epidemiologist with Disease Control at the Maine Bureau of Health. “Then we’d recommend what steps to take, as far as testing, case treatment and education.”
As state agencies get prepared, federal authorities are doing the same.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson recently announced plans to accelerate production of a new smallpox vaccine. Authorities have also quantified the supply of antibiotics available to treat anthrax as being enough for two million exposed people.
Still, local officials aren’t worried.
“I’d be more worried about meningitis than Anthrax,” said Clay-Storm. “I think there will be a few more isolated cases over time, but nothing major.”
Executive Editor Steve Peoples can be contacted at: [email protected]