Updated recommendations for handling suspicious packages or envelopes

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
• Description:
  Saturday, October 27, 2001, 18:15 EDT (6:15 PM EDT)
  
  CDCHAN-00047-2001-10-27-ADV-N
  
  Previous CDC recommendations for handling suspicious packages or envelopes were published as part of CDC Health Advisories on October 12 and 14, 2001. These recommendations were part of guidelines for handling anthrax and other biological agent threats. The following are updated CDC interim recommendations:
  
  Handling of Suspicious Packages or Envelopes
  
  • Do not shake or empty the contents of a suspicious package or envelope.
  
  • Do not carry the package or envelope, show it to others, or allow others to examine it.
  
  • Put the package or envelope on a stable surface; do not sniff, touch, taste, or look closely at it or any contents that may have spilled.
  
  • Alert others in the area about the suspicious package or envelope. Leave the area, close any doors, and take actions to prevent others from entering the area. If possible, shut off the ventilation system.
  
  • Wash hands with soap and water to prevent spreading potentially infectious material to face or skin. Seek additional instructions for exposed or potentially exposed persons.
  
  • If at work, notify a supervisor, a security officer, or a law enforcement official. If at home, contact the local law enforcement agency.
  
  • If possible, create a list of persons who were in the room or area when this suspicious letter or package was recognized and a list of persons who also may have handled this package or letter. Give the list to both the local public health
  
  authorities and law enforcement officials.
  
  These recommendations were published on October 25, 2001, in Update: Investigation of bioterrorism-related anthrax and interim guidelines for exposure management and antimicrobial therapy. MMWR 2001; 50: 909-919.
  
  Event Type: anthrax terrorism event
  
  Context: general information
  
  Event Type: Man-made
  
  Agent Type: bacteria
  
  Specify Agent (Name): anthrax
  
  International: no
  
  Intentional/Unintentional: intentional
  
  
• Subjects:
  Anthrax Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic Use Antibiotic Prophylaxis Bacillus Anthracis Bioterrorism Ciprofloxacin/therapeutic Use Doxycycline/therapeutic Use Government Agencies Microbial Sensitivity Tests Occupational Exposure Postal Service Public Health Practice Respiratory Tract Infections Skin Diseases, Bacterial Spores, Bacterial

  More +
• Source:
  HAN ; 047
• Series:
  Health Alert Network
• Document Type:
  HAN Health Advisory
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; Florida ; Maryland ; New Jersey ; New York ; Virginia
• Pages in Document:
  1 unnumbered page
• Issue:
  47
• Collection(s):
  Health Alert Network (HAN)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:91715089ac3f8a8c9517bc7bea7e62ea13d04037ef8252962c8755f80c412b5c507655ee87284161163035841a14060255478f4b47629781691ec0e8650cdcb4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/24960/cdc_24960_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 593.66 KB ]