Employees of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are being treated for possible exposure to anthrax. Reuters reports that 84 CDC workers at the Atlanta campus may have been exposed to anthrax after safety procedures were not followed in a biosafety lab preparing anthrax samples for research.

The incident occurred after CDC workers, believing the samples of Bacillus anthracis were inactivated, were not wearing adequate personal protective equipment while handling the material. The samples were moved and used for experimentation in three CDC campus laboratories. Adding to the risk is the fact that procedures used in two of the three labs may have aerosolized the spores.

CDC made the discovery of possible exposure on June 13, but if the spores were aerosolized, it could have happened as early as June 6. The CDC explains that anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax can be found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world.

Although it is rare, people can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. Fortunately, all types of anthrax can be prevented and treated with antibiotics. With early medical care, it is possible to have a full recovery.