by Mary Calvagna, MS
Anthrax is an animal disease that rarely spreads to humans. Because anthrax is considered a potential agent for use in biological warfare, it has come to the public's attention in the weeks since the September 11 attack on America. Cases of anthrax identified in recent weeks have generated fear about biological warfare in the United States.
Anthrax can infect the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, or the lungs. This can happen if the anthrax gets into an open cut, is swallowed, or is inhaled as a fine aerosolized mist.
In recent cases of anthrax in the United States, the spores, which look like a white powder, appear to have been put into letter envelopes and mailed to people.
How to identify suspicious packages and letters
Look for any of the following characteristics when trying to identify a suspicious package or letter:
- Excessive postage for the weight of the parcel
- Handwritten or poorly typed address
- Incorrect titles
- Title, but no name
- Misspellings of common words
- Oily stains, discolorations of color
- No return address
- Excessive weight
- Lopsided or uneven envelope
- Protruding wires or aluminum foil
- Excessive packing material such as masking tape, string, etc.
- Visual distractions
- Ticking sounds
- Marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or "Confidential"
- Shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address
What to do if you receive a suspicious package or letter
If you think you have a suspicious package or letter, follow these steps:
- Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package.
- Place the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container to prevent leakage of the contents.
- If you do not have any container, then cover the envelope or package with anything (e.g., trash can, clothing, book) and do not remove this cover.
- Leave the room and close the door. Or, section off the area to prevent others from entering.
- Wash your hands with soap and hot water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.
- Report the incident to the local police. If you are at work, also notify your building security official and a supervisor.
- If you open the letter or package, do not try to clean up the powder. Cover the spilled contents immediately with anything (e.g., clothing, trash can, paper) and do not remove this cover.
- Remove heavily contaminated clothing as soon as possible. Place the clothing in a plastic bag, or some other container that can be sealed. This clothing bag should be given to the emergency responders for proper handling.
- Shower with soap and hot water as soon as possible. Do not use bleach or any other disinfectant on your skin.
- Make a list of all the people who were in the room or area when this suspicious letter or package was recognized. Give the list to both the local public health authorities and law enforcement officials for follow-up investigations and advice