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HOW
TO HANDLE ANTHRAX AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL AGENT THREATS
Many facilities in
communities around the country have received anthrax threat letters.
Most were empty envelopes; some have contained powdery substances. The
purpose of these guidelines is to recommend procedures for handling such
incidents.
DO NOT
PANIC
- Anthrax organisms
can cause infection in the skin, gastrointestinal system, or the
lungs. To do, so the organism must be rubbed into abraded skin,
swallowed, or inhaled as a fine, aerosolized mist. Disease can
be prevented after exposure to the anthrax spores by early treatment
with the appropriate antibiotics. Anthrax is not spread from
one person to another person.
- For anthrax
to be effective as a covert agent, it must be aerosolized into
very small particles. This is difficult to do, and requires a
great deal of technical skill and special equipment. If these
small particles are inhaled, life-threatening lung infection can
occur, but prompt recognition and treatment are effective.
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SUSPICIOUS UNOPENED
LETTER OR PACKAGE MARKED WITH THREATENING MESSAGE SUCH AS "ANTHRAX"
- 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 contents.
- If you do
not have any container, then COVER the envelope or package with
anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove
this cover.
- Then LEAVE
the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent
others from entering (i.e., keep others away).
- WASH your
hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder
to your face.
- What to do
next.
- If
you are at HOME, then report the incident to "911".
- If you
are at WORK, then report the incident to "911"
and notify your building security official or an available
supervisor.
- LIST all
people who were in the room or area when this suspicious letter
or package was recognized. Give this list to both the local public
health authorities and law enforcement officials for follow-up
investigations and advice.
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ENVELOPE WITH POWDER
AND POWDER SPILLS OUT ONTO SURFACE:
- DO NOT try
to CLEAN UP the powder. COVER the spilled contents immediately
with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do
not remove this cover!
- Then LEAVE
the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent
others from entering (i.e., keep others away).'
- WASH your
hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder
to your face.
- What to do
next.
- If
you are at HOME, then report the incident to "911".
- If you
are at WORK, then report the incident to "911"
and notify your building security official or an available
supervisor.
- REMOVE heavily
contaminated clothing as soon as possible and place 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 water as soon as possible. Do Not Use Bleach
OrOther Disinfectant On Your Skin.
- If possible,
list all people who were in the room or area, especially those
who had actual contact with the powder. Give this list to both
the local public health authorities so that proper instructions
can be given for medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials
for further investigation.
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QUESTION OF ROOM
CONTAMINATION BY AEROSOLIZATION:
For example:
small device triggered, warning that air handling system is contaminated,
or warning that a biological agent released in a public space.
- Turn off
local fans or ventilation units in the area.
- LEAVE area
immediately.
- CLOSE the
door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering
(i.e., keep others away).
- What to do
next.
-
If you are at HOME, then report the incident to "911".
- If you
are at WORK, then report the incident to "911"
and notify your building security official or an available
supervisor.
- SHUT down
air handling system in the building, if possible.
- If possible,
list all people who were in the room or area. Give this list to
both the local public health authorities so that proper instructions
can be given for medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials
for further investigation.
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HOW
TO IDENTIFY SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES AND LETTERS
Some characteristics
of suspicious packages and letters include the following.
- Excessive postage
- Handwritten or
poorly typed addresses
- Incorrect titles
- Title, but no
name
- Misspellings
of common words
- Oily stains, discolorations
or odor
- No return address
- Excessive weight
- Lopsided or uneven
envelope
- Protruding wires
or aluminum foil
- Excessive security
material such as masking tape, string, etc.
- Visual distractions
- Ticking sound
- Marked with restrictive
endorsements, such as "Personal" or "Confidential"
- Shows a city or
state in the postmark that does not match the return address
This
is an official CDC
Health Advisory
Distributed
via Health Alert Network
October 12,
2001, 21:00 EDT (9:00 PM EDT)
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