posted 09-08-2000 03:11 PM            

Six members of U.S. family being treated for Anthrax Exposure
September 8, 2000

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) -- Six members of a Minnesota farm family are being treated after eating meat from a cow that had anthrax, health officials said.

The Minnesota Department of Health didn't provide information on their conditions, but said Thursday that two developed symptoms of gastrointestinal anthrax. Anthrax usually infects the skin, but can affect the digestive tract and respiratory system.

"There's never been a case of gastrointestinal anthrax reported in the United States," said Richard Danila, assistant state epidemiologist. "This was a very unique set of circumstances that happened whereby a family of six consumed meat found to be heavily contaminated with anthrax."

They raised the cow on their own farm and had it processed at a small custom slaughterhouse. Regulators don't inspect meat in such cases because it was for the family's own use.

The health department said the general public isn't at risk because animals processed for commercial sale are inspected.