Anthrax

First some perspective: At this point in time, anthrax incidents involving the mail have been on the east coast of the United States; these incidents have targeted the media and some federal government leadership. As you have heard in the news, the postal services on the east coast areas involved have had some people exposed, with two fatalities amongst postal workers. There have been three fatalities in all.

There have been no anthrax incidents in Oregon, and that includes none in the mail.

Mail Handling

When citizens or businesses receive mail, those persons opening the mail:

Do not open the envelope or package if it looks or smells suspicious (chemical odor, leaking, stains on envelope/package, wires protruding, lopsided or uneven, improperly addressed, no return address and/or wrong title with name, suspiciously misspelled words, post office stamp from east coast area (from unfamiliar sender).
Do not shake a suspicious-looking envelope or package.

For suspicious mail, contact your emergency communications agency, but use one of the following numbers so the "911" line does not get overloaded.
Lincoln City	call 994-3636
Toledo	call 336-5555
Confederated Tribes of Siletz property	call 336-5555
All other Lincoln County areas	Call LINCOM at 265-4231

If the mail is opened and there is a powdery substance inside, with or without a threat included
Immediately leave the room. Keep hands away from face. Wash hands with soap and water to remove any powdery substance on hands Contact your emergency communications agency immediately, by calling 911. The emergency communications agency will contact response agencies as above. Ensure all people are removed from the immediate area and any area where ventilation may take contaminants (but keep these people together nearby). Turn off the ventilation system. Ensure that all people who touched the suspect piece of mail wash hands with soap and water. List all people in the room or area, who might have been exposed to the contents of the suspicious mail. This list is to be provided to law enforcement personnel for follow-up, and to public health representatives, for possible medical referral. Notify postal authorities. NOTE: Some slick papers, for example calendar photo pages, may have a cornstarch-like "printers powder" to prevent the pages from sticking together. This is not unusual or harmful.
If clothing is contaminated
Remove contaminated clothing, triple bag in plastic bags. Clothing may be needed for examination by law enforcement. Shower with soap and water as soon as possible. DO NOT use bleach or strong disinfectant on skin.
More Facts.....
Threat assessment and laboratory sampling of suspicious material will be directed by the F.B.I. working with local law enforcement. Those people who handle volumes of others’ mail are advised to wash hands with soap and water after all mail work. If gloves are used, avoid latex/powdered latex, which can cause allergies in some people. Anthrax is a bacteria; there is adequate time for medical evaluation and antibiotic treatment if there has been an actual exposure to anthrax. Continual calmness, alertness, and vigilance are called for at this time. If there are questions, please call Lincoln County Health and Human Services Department, at 265-4112.