HARRISBURG – State Health Secretary Dr. Calvin B. Johnson today thanked medical and public health officials for their keen observations, quick response and excellent care of Vado Diomande, the 44-year old, New York resident who tested positive for a case of inhalational anthrax in Pennsylvania more than a month ago. Officials have announced that Diomande may soon be discharged from Robert Packer Hospital, in Sayre, Bradford County, where he received his life-saving care.

“Thanks to the quick public health response in Pennsylvania, we were able to isolate the cause of Mr. Diomande’s illness and begin treatment as quickly as possible, which may ultimately have saved his life,” Dr. Johnson said. “I am pleased that his recovery continues and that he may soon be able to return to his home and family in New York.

“This incident put the state’s preparedness plan for responding to a public health threat to the test, and Pennsylvanians should be very impressed by the results. Our response to this incident confirms that our preparedness plans can be effective and our outstanding public health and medical experts are able to respond quickly and effectively to ensure health and safety across the commonwealth.”

Recently, during the Pennsylvania Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Planning Summit in Pittsburgh, the state’s public health preparedness efforts were further enhanced when Governor Edward G. Rendell unveiled two new mobile health laboratories.

The mobile labs, Bio-Safety Level – 3 (BSL-3), in addition to the nationally respected State Health Laboratory BSL-3 lab in Lionville, Chester County, will give Pennsylvania the ability to perform rapid, comprehensive and highly-technical laboratory testing in any corner of the state within three hours. Diomande’s anthrax was confirmed by the State Health Lab in Lionville.

Last week, Governor Rendell also proposed adding $500,000 in state funding for preparedness planning, to help ensure that first responders, hospital staff and other key stakeholders are prepared during a public health threat.

Anyone with questions about anthrax or preparedness planning should go to www.health.state.pa.us or call 1-877- PA Health.

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For more information contact:

Ella Kuratomi
Department of Health
(717) 787-1783