OHIO

OHIO
Bioterrorism hot line
Ohio public health officials have set up a bioterrorism information line to address questions about anthrax threats. The number is (866) 936-4636. Ohio Department of Health personnel are staffing the line from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Information about bioterrorism and anthrax also is available on the Mahoning County District Board of Health Web site, "Advisories," and links pages at www.mahoning-health.org.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided these guidelines for handling anthrax and other bioterrorist threats:
Do Not Panic: Anthrax organisms can cause infection in the skin, gastrointestinal system, or the lungs. To do so, the organism must be rubbed into abraded skin, or inhaled as a fine aerosolized mist. Disease can be prevented after exposure to the anthrax spores by early treatment with the appropriate antibiotics. Anthrax is not spread from one person to another. For anthrax to be effective as a covert agent, it must be aerosolized into small particles. This is difficult to do, and requires a great deal of technical skill and special equipment.
A suspicious unopened letter or package marked "anthrax": Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package. Place the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container to prevent leakage of contents.
If you do not have any container, cover the envelope or package with anything and do not remove this cover. Leave the room and close the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering. Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face. Notify police and health officials.
Envelope with powder and powder spills out onto surface: Do not try to clean up the powder. Cover the spilled contents immediately with anything and do not remove the cover. Follow the aforementioned steps for receiving a suspicious unopened letter.
How to identify suspicious packages and letters: Excessive postage, handwritten or poorly typed titles, incorrect titles, oily stains, discoloration or odor, no return address, excessive weight, lopsided or uneven envelope, protruding wires or aluminum foil, the package or letter shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match with the return address.
Source: Ohio Department of Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control