Anthrax Safety Fact Sheet

Like you, IES Engineers is concerned about the Anthrax scares. We felt it important to share information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), U.S. Postal Service, and other federal and state agencies. We hope this information will help you and your company become more informed regarding the origination, identification, and prevention of the spread of this bacterium. If you need more information (other than emergencies), please contact the CDC, IES, or your local law enforcement agency.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

What is anthrax?
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It most commonly occurs in mammals such as cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and antelope, but can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or to tissue from infected animals.

What are the symptoms?

There are three forms of anthrax infection:

Cutaneous: About 95 percent of anthrax infections occur when the bacterium enters a cut or abrasion on the skin, such as when handling contaminated wool, hides, leather, or hair products of infected animals. It begins as a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite, but soon turns into a painless ulcer, usually one to three centimeters in diameter, usually with a black center in the middle. Lymph glands in the adjacent area may swell. About 20 percent of untreated cases result in death.

Inhalation: Initial symptoms may resemble a common cold. The disease begins abruptly with high fever and chest pain. It progresses rapidly to a systemic hemorrhagic pathology and is often fatal if treatment cannot stop the invasive aspect of the infection.

Intestinal: This form of anthrax may follow the consumption of contaminated meat and is characterized by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract. Initial signs include nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fever, followed by abdominal pain, vomiting blood and severe diarrhea. Between 25 percent and 60 percent of cases are fatal.

Is Anthrax Contagious?
Direct, person-to-person spread of anthrax is extremely unlikely. It is not contagious.

HOW TO IDENTIFY SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES AND LETTERS

Some characteristics of suspicious packages and letters include the following:

·Incorrect Titles
·Misspellings of Common Words
·No Return Address
·Lopsided or Uneven Envelope
·Incorrect Titles
·Misspellings of Common Words
·No Return Address
·Lopsided or Uneven Envelope
·Visual Distractions
·Handwritten or Poorly Typed Addresses
·Title, but No Name
·Oily Stains, Discolorations or Odor
·Excessive Weight
·Protruding Wires or Aluminum Foil
·Ticking Sound
·Excessive Postage
·Shows a City or State in the Postmark that Does Not Match the Return Address
·Excessive Security Material such as Masking Tape, String, etc.
·Marked with Restrictive Endorsements, such as “Personal” or “Confidential”
·Visual Distractions
·Handwritten or Poorly Typed Addresses

HOW TO HANDLE ANTHRAX AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL AGENT THREATS (Courtesy of the CDC):

BE PREPARED, NOT SCARED.
If you receive a suspicious unopened letter or package marked with a threatening message such as "anthrax":

1. Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package.

2. PLACE the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container to prevent leakage of contents.

3. If you do not have any container, then COVER the envelope or package with anything (clothing, paper, trashcan, etc.) and do not remove this cover.

4. Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).

5. WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.

6. What to do next…
- If you are at HOME, then report the incident to the local police.
- If you are at WORK, then report the incident to the local police and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.

7. 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 the law enforcement officials for follow-up investigations and advice.

If you receive an envelope with powder and the powder spills out onto surface:

1. DO NOT try to CLEAN UP the powder. COVER the spilled contents immediately with anything (clothing, paper, trashcan, etc.) and do not remove this cover!

2. Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).

3. WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.

4. What to do next…

- If you are at HOME, then report the incident to the local police.

- If you are at WORK, then report the incident to the local police and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.

5. REMOVE heavily contaminated clothing as soon as possible and place it 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.

6. SHOWER with soap and water as soon as possible. Do Not Use Bleach Or Other Disinfectant On Your Skin.

Should company mail handlers wear gloves?
Disposable gloves, if combined with proper hygiene (hand washing after sorting mail is completed, etc.), will help to limit the spread of contamination as well as your chance of infection. Consumption of food or drink while sorting mail or prior to washing hands after sorting mail should be avoided.

Need More Information (Non-Emergency):

From the CDC: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax_g.htm

From IES: Contact: George S. Petroka, CIH, CSP, RBP (gpetroka@iesengineers.com)

Call: IES Engineers 610-828-3078 (PA) or 732-748-1990(NJ)