Anthrax Threat by Mail

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 and immediately notify Sheriff's Office Communications who will notify County Health, Haz Mat and FBI.
    • 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 Health Department and/or Hazardous Materials Team will collect the mail, assess the threat situation, need for testing, and coordinate with the FBI.
    • List all persons who have touched the letter and/or envelope. Include contact information. Provide the list to the Health Department.
    • 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 Health Department representatives.
    • As soon as practical, shower with soap and water.

     

  • 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    • are addressed to someone no longer with your organization or are otherwise outdated.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! ยท Isolate the parcel.
    • Evacuate the immediate area.
    • Call EPSO Communications to report that you've received a parcel in the mail that may contain biological or chemical substances.

Open all mail carefully

  • Use letter opener, etc. to open mail.
  • Do not tear open!
  • Do not blow into envelope.
  • Carefully look into package, envelope, etc. before removing contents.
  • If anything looks suspicious, follow the procedures above.


Division Commander
Jim Reid

Civil Office
(719) 520-7144
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