Investigation of a Ricin-Containing Envelope at a Postal Facility – South Carolina, 2003

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Personal Author:
  Ard, L. ; Belson, M. ; Brundage, S. ; Deitchman, Scott D. ; Drociuk, D. ; Fabian, T. ; Fitzpatrick, N. ; Gibson, Judy ; Kiefer, Max J. ; Kilbourne, E. ; Meyer, Richard F. ; Moorhead, W. ; Osterloh, J. ; Patel, Manisha ; Rubin, C. ; Schier, Joshua G. ; Schwartz, Michael
• Description:
  On October 15, 2003, an envelope with a threatening note and a sealed container was processed at a mail processing and distribution facility in Greenville, South Carolina. The note threatened to poison water supplies if demands were not met. The envelope was isolated from workers and other mail and removed from the facility, and an investigation was begun. On October 21, laboratory testing at CDC confirmed that ricin was present in the container. To assess the human health effects related to possible ricin exposure, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) and CDC interviewed all workers at the postal facility and initiated statewide surveillance for illness consistent with ricin exposure during October 15--29. On October 22, the facility was closed for a detailed epidemiologic and environmental investigation. This report summarizes the results of the investigation, which found no evidence of environmental contamination and no cases of ricin-associated illness. Clinicians and public health officials should be vigilant for illnesses suggestive of ricin exposure. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biological Warfare Agents Chemical Warfare Agents Epidemiology Hazardous Substances Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Poisoning Safety
• Keywords:
  Biological-warfare-agents Chemical-warfare-agents Environmental-hazards Environmental-protection Poison-control Poisons Postal-employees Region-4 Surveillance-programs Water-industry
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 4 ; South Carolina
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  4 pdf pages
• Volume:
  52
• Issue:
  46
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20023875
• Citation:
  MMWR 2003 Nov; 52(46):1129-1131
• CAS Registry Number:
  Ricins (CAS RN 9009-86-3)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:759e0d595f773cd5faaa280c25e6b0fd503e26d4f95539981614cbce420e2315530cc7b5df6c9726ba8b814bd691326aa57683e1ce895f124b2e0a125b43ccdb
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183155/cdc_183155_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 102.11 KB ]