See the Mail FAQ for information about irradiated mail and NIH.

This information is also contained in Security Update # 17 (Mail Handling) (MS Word format).

NIH has conducted environmental testing for the anthrax bacterium on its primary mail facilities at North Stonestreet, the National Library of Medicine, and Rockledge. The test results were all negative. NIH will continue to monitor the anthrax threat and will test facilities that are risk for exposure.

NIH carefully screens all mail that passes through its facilities. Letters and packages are x-rayed and visually inspected several times. These procedures are aimed at intercepting suspicious mail and packages prior to their being placed in the NIH mail stream. ANY suspicious letter or package is immediately removed from the mail stream and isolated for further evaluation. If an incident were to occur at an NIH mail facility, an established emergency response protocol is implemented immediately.

"Suspicious" items include those that display the various telltale marks the FBI, the Postal Inspection Service and security professionals advise to look for as well as anything else the professional mail handlers think is questionable. Disposition of the suspicious item depends on the nature of the suspicion. The likelihood of a suspicious letter or package passing through the NIH mail facility and being forwarded to an NIH addressee is low.

See Identifying Suspicious Mail for guidelines on identifying suspicious mail and packages.

Note the following instructions are slightly different from those previously distributed. The differences are mostly clarifications.

If a letter or package that not did not seem suspicious after inspection by the NIH mail handlers still arouses suspicion when you receive it, do not panic, take these precautions:

1. DO NOT OPEN IT - Put the item down.
2. Without touching another surface, item, or person, leave the room in which the item is located and have someone close the door behind you.
3. Wash your hands thoroughly with lots of soap and water.
4. Call 911* (both on and off campus facilities) and report the situation. If possible ask someone else to make the call.
5. Report the circumstances to the 911 operator.
6. Write down the names of the people who were in the immediate area and adjoining rooms where the suspicious mail/package was left.

Here is what you can expect when you call 911 at NIH:

1. An ORS employee will respond to the call and safely isolate the suspicious mail/package and remove it from the area.
2. Return to work.
3. A police officer will come by within 3 hours to take an incident report.
4. The suspicious material will be removed to safe location and opened under controlled conditions.
5. The ORS will report back to the IC the findings of the inspection as soon as a determination was made.

If a letter or package is opened and there is a release of a suspicious substance, the situation will be treated as an emergency incident; a hazardous materials team will respond. Do the following:

1. Put the item down
2. Without touching another surface, item, or person, leave the room in which the item is located and have someone close the door behind you.
3. Call 911* (both on and off campus facilities) and report the situation. If possible ask someone else to make the call.
4. Write down the names of the people who were in the immediate area and adjoining rooms where the suspicious mail/package was "discovered." Insist that all people who were in and around the area where the incident occurred to stay nearby until emergency response personnel arrive.

Here is what you can expect when you call 911 at NIH:

1. This will be treated as an emergency incident - emergency response personnel will respond.
2. Follow the instructions of the response team.

NIH is fortunate to be able to use this straightforward approach because we have an outstanding emergency response capability and staff on the premises. The nationally recognized NIH Fire and Emergency Response Section (FERS) routinely provides state-of-the-art response to all types of emergencies which may occur at the NIH, including incidents involving hazardous materials. The FERS is the initial responder to a variety of complex chemical, biological, radiological, and environmental incidents as well as to fires, rescue and medical emergencies. This first response capability is backed by Division of Safety staff with expertise in environmental, hazardous substance, and workplace safety and health, and by the NIH Police.

NOTE - NIH employees on campus and in local off-campus facilities should both call 911 for this situation not 9-911. You will be calling the Emergency Response Communications Center in the ORS Division of Public Safety which provides 24/7 coverage. Calling the ECC will allow NIH to properly assess the situation and plan the response.

This page last updated on January 28, 2002