BIOTERRORISM

How to Identify Suspicious Packages or Letters

• Protruding wires or aluminum foil                                                                             
• No return address
• Misspelling of common words
• Oily stains, discolorations or odor
• Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
• Excessive security material (string, tape)
• Marked as "Personal" or "Confidential"
• Shows a city or state in postmark that does not match return address
• Excessive weight
• Lopsided or uneven envelope
• Incorrect titles
• Title, no no name
• Excessive postage
• Visual distractions on package
• Ticking sound.

HOW TO HANDLE AN OPENED ENVELOPE OR PACKAGE WITH POWDER

• Do not panic!
• Do not touch contents or try to clean up the powder.
• Cover the spilled contents immediately with anything (clothing, paper, inverted trash can, etc) and do not remove the cover.
• Leave the room or area
• Close the door or secton off area to keep others away.
• Wash your hands with soap and water (bleach not necessary)
• Report the incident
• Remove clothing as soon as possible and place in plastic bag or sealed container. Give to Emergency Responders for proper handling.
• Shower as soon as possible with soap and water, including shampooing of hair.
• List all people in the room or area during the time since the suspicious lettter/ package arrived until it was recognized. Give the list to local public health authorities and police.

HOW TO HANDLE A SUSPICIOUS UNOPENED LETTER OR PACKAGE MARKED WITH A THREATENING MESSAGE

• Do not panic!
• Do not touch and/or open the letter or package.
• Leave the room or area.
• Close the door or section off the area to keep others away.
• Wash your hands with soap and water (bleach not necessary).
• Report the incident.
• List all people in the area during the time since the suspicious letter/package arrived. Give list to local public health  authorities and police.

HOW TO HANDLE A POTENTIAL ROOM CONTAMINATED BY AEROSOLIZATION OF A BIOLOGICAL AGENT

• Do not panic!
• Turn off local fans or ventilation units i the area.
• Close the door or section off the area to keep others away.
• Report the incident.
• Shut down the air handling system in the building, if possible.
• List all people in the room or area during the time of the potential aerosolization. Give the list to local public health authorities  and police.