MEDIA ADVISORY

Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, August 13, 2003

POND IN CITY OF FREDERICK'S MUNICIPAL FOREST CLOSED FOR TESTING

Frederick, Md. -- On Monday evening, August 11th, the City of Frederick was informed of a possible contamination in one of the ponds in the City's Municipal Forest. It was reported that on July 27th the Thurmont Fire and Rescue Squad was conducting drills in the watershed. Four rescue personnel and three rescue dogs were present when one of the dogs and its handler entered a pond. The dog has since become ill. The dog's symptoms include lesions on its legs and underside, as well as neurological problems. The handler has also indicated a lesion on her foot and in her mouth. Neither the dog nor the handler are residents of Frederick County.

On Monday evening the Frederick County Health Department took water samples from the pond in question. Those samples have been sent to laboratories at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene state labs for testing. Results are within 48-72 hours.

Earlier this morning the City Police Department, accompanied by the FBI, secured the pond. The pond will remain closed until tests have been analyzed under orders of Dr. James Bowes, Frederick County Health Officer.

The FBI confirmed that they had tested the water, soil and sediment in the pond, but added that the pond "had no investigative interest" during the ongoing September 2001 Anthrax investigations. "It is not anthrax. We're very comfortable with that."

The Frederick County Health Department is the lead agency on this investigation. Additional information will be released when it is available. The City will not be holding any news conferences relating to this issue.

Media call should be directed to Cindy Bowers, Public Information Officer for the Frederick County Health Department, at 301-600-1788.