| August
15, 2003
Little Rock
-- On August 8,
2003, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) was asked
by the local office of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) to evaluate a letter. Tests
conducted by ADH and confirmed on August 14 by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were
positive for minute traces of anthrax.
On that same day, the ADH
and CDC spoke with the FBI agent who recovered the
letter and family members who received the letter nearly
two years ago (postmarked October 9, 2001). All are in
good health and there is no record of related illness.
The FBI had obtained the
letter as part of its criminal investigation in the
mailing of four letters containing anthrax in September
and October 2001. Those letters were processed at the
Postal Service’s mail processing center in Trenton,
New Jersey. The letter in question appears to have been
cross-contaminated during processing in Trenton.
The concern of the ADH,
CDC and the FBI extends to Arkansas Postal Service employees
who may have handled the letter in October 2001. Today,
those parties, accompanied by local Postal Service management,
are meeting with postal employees to explain the situation
and discuss their concerns. Preliminary though incomplete
analysis shows no illnesses related to this event.
“Other than our lab
personnel, the last direct contact with the letter was
over 16 months ago. The last contact by postal workers
was 22 months ago,” Dr. Boozman, ADH director, said.
“Because the symptoms of anthrax infection occur
within 7 to 42 days of exposure, we are confident the
health risk to any individual is negligible.”
“With invaluable input
from the CDC, FBI and the Postal Service, we have been
able to confirm our test results and validate that all
precautions have been taken,” Dr. Boozman said.
For additional
information, visit the ADH website at www.healthyarkansas.com
or contact:
Arkansas Department of
Health
Robert Alvey
501-661-2743
After hours, 501-661-2136
Federal Bureau of
Investigation
Little Rock office
William Temple
501-221-9100
Washington, DC
Paul Bresson, public affairs
202-324-3691
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
404-639-3286
United States Postal Service
Stephen Seewoester
214-288-2910
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