What constitutes a suspicious letter or parcel?
Some typical
characteristics which ought to trigger suspicion include letters or parcels
that:
- Have any powdery substance on the
outside.
- Are unexpected or from
someone unfamiliar to you.
- Have excessive postage,
handwritten or poorly typed address, incorrect titles or titles with no
name, or misspellings of common words.
- Are addressed to
someone no longer with your organization or are otherwise outdated.
- Have no return
address, or have one that can''t be verified as legitimate.
- Are of unusual weight,
given their size, or are lopsided or oddly shaped.
- Have an unusual amount
of tape.
- Are marked with
restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or
"Confidential."
- Have strange odors or stains.
What Should I do if I Receive an Anthrax Threat
by Mail? - Do not handle the mail
piece or package suspected of contamination.
- Make sure that damaged
or suspicious packages are isolated and the immediate area cordoned off.
- Ensure that all
persons who have touched the mail piece wash their hands with soap and
water.
- Notify your local law
enforcement authorities.
- List all persons who
have touched the letter and/or envelope. Include contact information and
have this information available for the authorities.
- Place all items worn
when in contact with the suspected mail piece in plastic bags and have
them available for law enforcement agents.
- As soon as practical,
shower with soap and water.
- Notify the Center for
Disease Control Emergency Response at 770-488-7100 for answers to any
questions.
The mail is safe! People shouldn''t stop using the mail because of these isolated incidents. The simple act of paying attention to incoming mail will go a long way in keeping it safe and viable. Everyone, in the mailing community, as well as the American public, should exercise common sense.
Additional information is available on the Postal Service''s official web site at www.USPS.com .
Facts About Anthrax
There
are new concerns and questions involving anthrax, an acute infectious disease
most commonly found in animals. Initial symptoms may resemble a common cold but
may progress to severe breathing problems and shock; if untreated, the disease
is often fatal. But in persons exposed to anthrax, infection can be prevented
with antibiotic treatment.
Direct
person-to-person spread of anthrax is extremely unlikely, if it occurs at all.
Therefore, there is no need to immunize or treat others exposed to a patient
with anthrax.
Additional information on emergency operations planning
and bio-terrorism:
- CDC - FAQ - Anthrax:
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax_g.htm - CDC - HOW TO HANDLE ANTHRAX
AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL AGENT THREATS:
www.bt.cdc.gov/DocumentsApp/Anthrax/10122001Handle/10122001Handle.asp - FEMA - Guide for All-Hazard
Emergency Operations Planning:
www.fema.gov/library/allhzpln6g.htm - U.S. Postal Service News
Release - 10/15/2001:
www.usps.com/news/2001/press/pr01_1010tips.htm