Now Far From a Hoax

Honolulu

As the bioterrorism microbiologist coordinator for the state of Hawaii, Rebecca Sciulli has been very busy checking for anthrax in environmental samples. In the past, she says, "The lab would get one case a year — a hoax." But between Oct. 16 and 26, she processed 131 samples, "mostly from people who have gotten mail from Washington, D.C., New York or Florida."

For the last two years, Sciulli, a member of Hawaii Government Employees Association/AFSCME Local 152, has been part of the state team developing a plan to handle potential biological or chemical attacks. She has conducted training sessions for workers in public and commercial laboratories, giving them pointers on identifying anthrax, tularemia and the plague.

"We have people from epidemiology, pharmaceutical stockpile, law enforcement, the military....Working together has promoted fellowship and a feeling of partnership — even with the commercial labs."

Facing an invisible enemy is intimidating, but it does help if you know you’re not alone.