15 October 2001
Text: U.S. Postal Service Warns of Mail Containing Infectious Material
(Anthrax transmitted by post in two confirmed cases) (1,150)
The United States Postal Service (USPS) cautions about the handling of
suspicious mail following two cases in which anthrax spores were
transmitted through the post.
An office of the Microsoft Corporation in Reno, Nevada, has received a
letter mailed from Malaysia containing infectious material. In New
York City, an employee of the NBC television network is being treated
for a skin form of the disease after apparent exposure to anthrax
contained in an envelope mailed to a prominent anchor man for the
network.
In an October 15 news release, USPS -- which delivers 208,000 million
pieces of mail each year -- provides guidelines on what constitutes
suspicious mail, what procedures to use upon receipt of mail suspected
of contamination, and how to protect those who may have been
potentially exposed.
The press release also describes the symptoms, effects and treatment
of anthrax, an acute bacterial infection of the skin, lungs or
gastrointestinal tract.
(begin text)
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
October 15, 2001
The U.S. Postal Service Has Had Only Two Confirmed Incidents Of The
U.S. Mail Being Used To Transport Anthrax Bacteria
How likely is it that someone would receive a harmful biological or
chemical substance in the mail?
The Postal Service delivers approximately 208 billion pieces of mail
per year. Presently, there have been only two confirmed incidents of
anthrax bacteria being sent through the mail.
What Should I do if I Receive an Anthrax Threat by Mail?
--Do not handle the mail piece or package suspected of contamination.
--Notify your supervisor, who will immediately contact the Inspection
Service, local police, safety office or designated person.
--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.
--The Inspectors will collect the mail, assess the threat situation
and coordinate with the FBI.
--Designated officials will notify local, county, and state health
departments.
--Designated officials will notify the state emergency manager.
--List all persons who have touched the letter and/or envelope.
Include contact information. Provide the list to the Inspection
Service.
--Place all items worn when in contact with the suspected mail piece
in plastic bags and keep them wherever you change your clothes and
have them available for law enforcement agents.
--As soon as practical, shower with soap and water.
--If prescribed medication by medical personnel, take it until
otherwise instructed or it runs out.
--Notify the Center for Disease Control Emergency Response at
770-488-7100 for answers to any questions.
What Is Anthrax?
Anthrax is a bacterial, zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus Anthracis.
Anthrax occurs in domesticated and wild animals, including goats,
sheep, cattle, horses and deer.
The skin form of the disease may be contracted by handling
contaminated hair, wool, hides, flesh, blood or excreta of infected
animals and from manufactured products such as bone meal. Infection is
introduced through scratches or abrasions of the skin, wounds,
inhalation of spores, eating insufficiently cooked infected meat or
from flies. The spores are very stable and may remain viable for many
years in soil and water. They will resist sunlight for varying
periods.
What Are the Symptoms and Effects of Anthrax?
After an incubation period of 1-7 days, the onset of inhalation
anthrax is gradual. Possible symptoms include:
--fever
--malaise
--fatigue
--cough
--mild chest discomfort followed by severe respiratory distress
This mild illness can progress rapidly to respiratory distress and
shock in 2-4 days followed by a range of more severe symptoms,
including breathing difficulty and exhaustion. Death usually occurs
within 24 hours of respiratory distress.
What Are the Clinical Features of Anthrax?
Anthrax is an acute bacterial infection of the skin, lungs or
gastrointestinal tract. Infection occurs most commonly via the skin.
The cutaneous or skin form of the infection occurs most frequently on
the hands and forearms of persons working with infected livestock or
contaminated animal products and represents 95% of cases of human
anthrax. It is initially characterized by a small solid elevation of
the skin, which progresses to a fluid-filled blister with swelling at
the site of infection. The scab that typically forms over the lesion
can be black as coal, hence the name anthrax -- Greek for coal. With
treatment, the case fatality rate is less than 1% among people who get
the skin form of the disease. The fatality rate for untreated inhaled
or intestinal anthrax is over 90%.
The inhaled form of anthrax is contracted by inhalation of the spores,
occurs mainly among workers handling infected animal hides, wool and
furs. Under natural conditions, inhaled anthrax is exceedingly rare,
with only 18 cases reported in the United States in the 20th century.
What Is the Treatment for Anthrax?
Treatment with antibiotics beginning one day after exposure has been
shown to provide significant protection against death in tests with
monkeys, especially when combined with active immunization.
Penicillin, doxycycline, ciproflaxin, are all effective against most
strains of the diseas. Penicillin is the drug of choice for naturally
ocurring anthrax. If untreated, inhaled anthrax is fatal.
A vaccine is available and consists of a series of 6 doses over 18
months with yearly boosters. This vaccine, while known to protect
against anthrax acquired through the skin, is also believed to be
effective against inhaled spores.
Effective decontamination can be accomplished by boiling contaminated
articles in water for 30 minutes or longer and using common
disinfectants. Chlorine is effective in destroying spores and
vegetative cells. Remember, anthrax spores are stable, able to resist
sunlight for several hours and able to remain alive in soil and water
for years.
What constitutes a "suspicious parcel?"
Some typical characteristics Postal Inspectors have detected over the
years, which ought to trigger suspicion, include parcels that:
--are unexpected or from someone unfamiliar to you.
--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.
--are marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or
"Confidential."
--have protruding wires, strange odors or stains.
--show a city or state in the postmark that doesn't match the return
address.
What should I do if I've received a suspicious parcel in the mail?
--Do not try to open the parcel!
--Isolate the parcel.
--Evacuate the immediate area.
--Call a Postal Inspector to report that you've received a parcel in
the mail that may contain biological or chemical substances.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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