The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with Tahki Imports, Ltd., today warned consumers that they have found balls of yarn containing animal wool or hair that may be contaminated with anthrax spores. According to Commission investigators, the contaminated yarn appeared to have been offered for sale through many retail outlets over the last year. Consumers who own this yarn should seal the yarn or products made from it in an airtight double plastic bag and call a local or state health department for disposal instructions. Consumers should not attempt to sterilize the yarn, incinerate it, or throw it away because of the risk of further contamination.
Anthrax is an acute bacterial disease which can be fatal for humans if untreated.
It can be transmitted from a product bearing the anthrax spores mainly through skin contact and in rare circumstances through inhalation. Anthrax infection is-not contagious from one person to another. While risk of dangerous human infection is low, the disease can be quite serious. The disease may start with a blister and can develop into a depressed area of dead tissue with a dark crust. Fever and other symptoms may not appear until the disease is severe.