Pennsylvania Code
Title 7 - AGRICULTURE
Part I - Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services
Chapter 1 - MEAT HYGIENE
Subchapter C - POSTMORTEM INSPECTIONS
Section 1.122 - Sanitation of personnel contaminated with anthrax

(a) The first and indispensable precautionary step for persons who have handled anthrax material is thorough cleansing of the hands and arms with liquid soap and running hot water. It is important that this step be taken immediately after exposure, before vegetative anthrax organisms have had time to form spores. In the cleansing, a brush or other appropriate appliance shall be used to insure the removal of all contaminating material from under and about the fingernails. This process of cleansing is most effective when performed in repeated cycles of lathering and rinsing rather than in spending the same amount of time in scrubbing with a single lathering. After the hands have been cleansed thoroughly and rinsed free of soap, they may, if desired, be immersed for about one minute in a 1-1,000 solution of bichloride of mercury, followed by thorough rinsing in clean running water. Supplies of bichloride of mercury for this purpose shall be held in the custody of the officer in charge.

(b) As a precautionary measure, all persons exposed to anthrax infection should report promptly any suspicious condition (sore or carbuncle) or symptom to a physician, in order that anti-anthrax serum or other treatment may be administered as indicated.