Some health officials believe that it is the nation’s first case of gastrointestinal anthrax, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was unsure.
Dr. Elizabeth Talbot, an adviser to the state’s Division of Public Health Services, said one theory is that the woman ingested airborne spores from a drum’s animal-hide covering.
“This was a wild type of anthrax that is found ubiquitously in our environment,’’ she said. “It can become stirred up or agitated to a place where it briefly suspends in the air, and this patient likely contacted it on her fingers and introduced it into her mouth or inhaled a . . . spore into her mouth and then swallowed it.’’
Two recent US anthrax cases involved African drums covered with animal hides, but those involved spores that were inhaled or entered through the skin.
Yesterday, officials said spores were also found on an electrical outlet and that antibiotics and vaccines would be offered to about 80 people, including about 60 who attended the drum circle as well as University of New Hampshire students who lived in the building and those who worked there.
Samples have been sent to the CDC to determine whether the patient’s anthrax strain matches that found on the drums or electrical outlet.
The ministry center is not part of the university, but houses students and runs campus-based programs. Pastor Larry Brickner-Wood, the center’s director, said the monthly drum circles involve people playing hand drums and other percussion instruments to build community spirit and promote well-being.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with this young woman and her family,’’ he said.
