Emergency Preparedness & Response
- Specific Hazards
- Bioterrorism
- A–Z
- Anthrax
- What You Need To Know
- Mail Handlers
- Questions & Answers
- Additional Fact Sheets & Overviews
- Cutaneous Anthrax
- Diagnosis
- Environment
- Exposure Management
- Infection Control
- Lab Testing
- Images
- Preparation & Planning
- References
- Surveillance & Investigation
- Training & Education
- Treatment
- Vaccination
- Work Safety
- Arenaviruses
- Botulism
- Brucella
- Cholera
- Ebola virus
- E. coli
- Food safety threats
- Glanders
- Lassa fever
- Marburg virus
- Melioidosis
- Plague
- Q fever
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- Smallpox
- Smallpox Basics
- Vaccine Basics
- Clinicians
- Vaccination Q & A (for professionals)
- Health Officials
- People Selected for Response Teams
- Diagnosis/
Evaluation - Lab Testing
- Infection Control
- Surveillance & Investigation
- Preparation & Planning
- Response
- Vaccination
- Images
- Medical Management
- Training & Education
- References
- Tularemia
- Typhoid fever
- Viral hemorrhagic fevers
- Anthrax
- List by Category
- Fact Sheets
- Case Definitions
- Training
- Surveillance
- Preparation & Planning
- First Responders
- Lab Info
- A–Z
- Chemical
- A–Z
- Abrin
- Adamsite
- Ammonia
- Arsenic
- Arsine
- Barium
- Benzene
- Brevetoxin
- Bromine
- BZ
- Carbon monoxide
- Chlorine
- Chromium
- Colchicine
- Cyanide
- Digitalis
- Ethylene glycol
- Hydrazine
- Hydrofluoric acid
- Lewisite
- Melamine
- Mercury
- Methyl bromide
- Methyl isocyanate
- Nicotine
- Nitrogen mustard
- Opioids
- Organic solvents
- Osmium tetroxide
- Paraquat
- Phosgene
- Phosgene oxime
- Phosphine
- Phosphorus
- Pulmonary agents
- Ricin
- Sarin
- Saxitoxin
- Selenium
- Sodium azide
- Sodium monofluoroacetate
- Soman
- Strychnine
- Sulfur mustard
- Sulfuryl Fluoride
- Super Warfarin
- Tabun
- Tetrodotoxin
- Thallium
- Trichothecene
- Unidentified Chemical
- VX
- List by Category
- Chemical-Specific Fact Sheets
- Toxicology FAQs
- Case Definitions
- Toxic Syndrome Descriptions
- Toxicological Profiles
- Training
- First Responders
- Medical Management
- Emergency Response Cards
- Lab Info
- Surveillance
- Preparation & Planning
- A–Z
- Gulf Oil Spill 2010
- Radiation
- Mass Casualties
- Natural Disasters & Severe Weather
- Recent Outbreaks & Incidents
- Bioterrorism
- Preparedness for All Hazards
- Children
- Clinician Resources
- About COCA
- COCA Partner Organizations
- COCA Conference Calls
- Conference Calls - 2013
- Conference Calls - 2012
- Conference Calls - 2011
- Conference Calls - 2010
- June 3, 2010
- June 9, 2010
- June 22, 2010
- July 8, 2010
- July 27, 2010
- August 3, 2010
- August 17, 2010
- August 30, 2010
- September 2, 2010
- September 16, 2010
- September 21, 2010
- September 22, 2010
- October 1, 2010
- November 2, 2010
- November 9, 2010
- November 23, 2010
- December 2, 2010
- December 7, 2010
- December 14, 2010
- December 15, 2010
- Continuing Education Credit for COCA Calls
- Updates & Reminders
- Reminders - 2012
- Reminders - 2011
- Reminders - 2010
- Updates - 2013
- Updates - 2012
- January 3, 2012
- January 17, 2012
- January 30, 2012
- February 13, 2012
- February 27, 2012
- March 12, 2012
- March 26, 2012
- April 9, 2012
- April 23, 2012
- May 7, 2012
- May 21, 2012
- June 4, 2012
- June 18, 2012
- July 2, 2012
- July 16, 2012
- July 30, 2012
- August 13, 2012
- August 27, 2012
- September 10, 2012
- September 24, 2012
- October 8, 2012
- October 22, 2012
- November 5, 2012
- November 19, 2012
- December 3, 2012
- Updates - 2011
- January 3, 2011
- January 18, 2011
- January 31, 2011
- February 14, 2011
- February 28, 2011
- March 14, 2011
- March 21, 2011
- April 4, 2011
- April 11, 2011
- April 25, 2011
- May 9, 2011
- May 23, 2011
- June 6, 2011
- June 20, 2011
- July 5, 2011
- July 18, 2011
- August 1, 2011
- August 15, 2011
- August 29, 2011
- September 12, 2011
- September 26, 2011
- October 11, 2011
- November 7, 2011
- November 21, 2011
- December 5, 2011
- December 19, 2011
- Updates - 2010
- Join the COCA Mailing List
- Conference & Training Opportunities
- Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Resources
- Communicating in the First Hours
- Coping with a Disaster
- Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC)
- Health Alert Network (HAN)
- HAN Jurisdictions
- HAN Message Types
- Sign-Up for HAN Updates
- HAN Archive
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- HAN00304
- HAN00303
- HAN00302
- HAN00301
- HAN00300
- HAN00299
- HAN00298
- HAN00297
- HAN00296
- HAN00295
- HAN00294
- HAN00293
- HAN00292
- HAN00291
- HAN00290
- HAN00289
- HAN00288
- HAN00287
- HAN00286
- HAN00285
- HAN00284
- HAN00283
- HAN00282
- HAN00281
- HAN00280
- 2008
- HAN00279
- HAN00278
- HAN00277
- HAN00276
- HAN00275
- HAN00274
- HAN00273
- HAN00272
- HAN00271
- HAN00270
- HAN00269
- HAN00268
- 2007
- 2006
- HAN00256
- HAN00255
- HAN00254
- HAN00253
- HAN00252
- HAN00251
- HAN00250
- HAN00249
- HAN00248
- HAN00247
- HAN00246
- HAN00245
- HAN00244
- HAN00243
- HAN00242
- HAN00241
- HAN00240
- 2005
- HAN00239
- HAN00238
- HAN00237
- HAN00236
- HAN00235
- HAN00234
- HAN00233
- HAN00232
- HAN00231
- HAN00230
- HAN00229
- HAN00228
- HAN00227
- HAN00226
- HAN00225
- HAN00224
- HAN00223
- HAN00222
- HAN00221
- HAN00220
- 2004
- HAN00219
- HAN00218
- HAN00217
- HAN00216
- HAN00215
- HAN00214
- HAN00213
- HAN00212
- HAN00211
- HAN00210
- HAN00209
- HAN00208
- HAN00207
- HAN00206
- HAN00205
- HAN00204
- HAN00203
- HAN00202
- HAN00201
- HAN00200
- HAN00199
- HAN00198
- HAN00197
- HAN00196
- HAN00195
- HAN00194
- HAN00193
- HAN00192
- HAN00191
- HAN00190
- HAN00189
- HAN00188
- HAN00187
- HAN00186
- HAN00185
- HAN00184
- HAN00183
- HAN00182
- HAN00181
- 2003
- HAN00180
- HAN00179
- HAN00178
- HAN00177
- HAN00176
- HAN00175
- HAN00174
- HAN00173
- HAN00172
- HAN00171
- HAN00170
- HAN00169
- HAN00168
- HAN00167
- HAN00166
- HAN00165
- HAN00164
- HAN00163
- HAN00162
- HAN00161
- HAN00160
- HAN00159
- HAN00158
- HAN00157
- HAN00156
- HAN00155
- HAN00154
- HAN00153
- HAN00152
- HAN00151
- HAN00150
- HAN00149
- HAN00148
- HAN00147
- HAN00146
- HAN00145
- HAN00144
- HAN00143
- HAN00142
- HAN00141
- HAN00140
- HAN00139
- HAN00138
- HAN00137
- HAN00136
- HAN00135
- HAN00134
- HAN00133
- HAN00132
- HAN00131
- HAN00130
- HAN00129
- HAN00128
- HAN00127
- HAN00126
- HAN00125
- HAN00124
- HAN00123
- HAN00122
- HAN00121
- HAN00120
- HAN00119
- HAN00118
- HAN00117
- HAN00116
- HAN00115
- HAN00114
- HAN00113
- HAN00112
- HAN00111
- HAN00110
- HAN00109
- HAN00108
- 2002
- HAN00107
- HAN00106
- HAN00105
- HAN00104
- HAN00103
- HAN00102
- HAN00101
- HAN00100
- HAN00099
- HAN00098
- HAN00097
- HAN00096
- HAN00095
- HAN00094
- HAN00093
- HAN00092
- HAN00091
- HAN00090
- HAN00089
- HAN00088
- HAN00087
- HAN00086
- HAN00085
- HAN00084
- HAN00083
- HAN00082
- HAN00081
- HAN00080
- HAN00079
- HAN00078
- HAN00077
- HAN00076
- HAN00075
- HAN00074
- HAN00073
- HAN00072
- HAN00071
- HAN00070
- HAN00069
- HAN00068
- HAN00067
- 2001
- HAN00066
- HAN00065
- HAN00064
- HAN00063
- HAN00062
- HAN00061
- HAN00060
- HAN00059
- HAN00058
- HAN00057
- HAN00056
- HAN00055
- HAN00054
- HAN00053
- HAN00052
- HAN00051
- HAN00050
- HAN00049
- HAN00048
- HAN00047
- HAN00046
- HAN00045
- HAN00044
- HAN00043
- HAN00042
- HAN00041
- HAN00040
- HAN00039
- HAN00038
- HAN00037
- HAN00036
- HAN00035
- HAN00034
- HAN00033
- HAN00032
- HAN00031
- HAN00030
- HAN00029
- HAN00028
- HAN00027
- HAN00025
- HAN00024
- HAN00023
- HAN00022
- HAN00021
- HAN00020
- HAN00019
- HAN00018
- HAN00017
- HAN00016
- HAN00015
- HAN00014
- HAN00013
- HAN00012
- HAN00011
- HAN00010
- HAN00009
- HAN00008
- HAN00007
- HAN00006
- HAN00005
- HAN00004
- HAN00003
- HAN00002
- HAN00001
- Lab Info
- Laboratory Response Network (LRN)
- Preparation & Planning
- Related Links
- Risk Communicator
- Issue 3
- Emergency & Risk Communication
- Anthrax Scare
- Pan Flu Preparedness
- YouTube is Your Friend
- Additional Resources
- Contributors
- Issue 2
- Priceless Collaboration for Hurricane Preparedness
- Talking to WHO's John Rainford - New WHO Guidelines
- Emergency Communication Challenges in Hurricane Katrina Response
- Hurricane Readiness in High-Risk Areas: Survey Results
- Elements of a Successful Exercise: Functional vs Tabletop and Beyond
- Collaboration & Communication During Emergency Response
- Public Health Observances
- Calendar of Training Opportunities
- Contributors
- Issue 1
- Introduction to the Risk Communicator
- Social Media & Emergency Communication
- Messaging Is Matter of Trust
- Program Spotlight: Frontlines of the CA Wildfires
- Research Summaries: Summaries of Work from Deborah Glik and Craig Lefebvre
- Risk Communication Opportunities During National Observances
- Upcoming Conferences, Training, and Workshops of Interest to Risk Communicators
- Contributors
- About the Newsletter
- SNAPS
- Social Media
- Surveillance
- Training & Education
- What CDC Is Doing
- What You Can Do
- Blog: Public Health Matters
- What's New
- A - Z Index
Anthrax Q & A: Anthrax and the Mail
www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/anthrax/
How can mail get cross-contaminated with anthrax?
CDC does not have specific studies to address this, however, cross-contamination of the mail could occur during the processing, sorting, and delivery of mail when an envelope comes in contact with an envelope, piece of equipment (e.g., an electronic sorting machine), or other surface that is contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores. In addition, airborne spores in contaminated postal facilities before they were cleaned might play a role.
When there is a known incident, how can I prevent anthrax exposure from cross-contaminated mail?
There are no scientifically proven recommendations for preventing exposure. However, there are some common-sense steps people can take:
- Do not open suspicious mail
- Keep mail away from your face when you open it
- Do not blow or sniff mail or mail contents
- Avoid vigorous handling of mail, such as tearing or shredding
- Wash your hands after handling the mail
- Discard envelopes after opening mail.
What is the risk for getting anthrax from handling my own mail?
If there is a risk for inhalation anthrax associated with exposure to cross-contaminated mail, it is very low. For example, about 85 million pieces of mail were processed on the few days in 2001 after envelopes containing Bacillus anthracis (addressed to two U.S. senators) passed through the New Jersey and District of Columbia sorting facilities until they were closed. Despite the fact that both of these facilities had evidence of widespread environmental contamination with B. anthracis spores and the fact that public health officials had been aggressively looking for anthrax cases, no new cases of anthrax were identified during that time.
As a postal employee, am I at risk for getting anthrax from handling mail on the job when there is an anthrax cross-contaminated mail event?
If there is a risk for inhalation anthrax associated with exposure to cross-contaminated
mail, it is very low, even for postal employees and persons who work in company
mailrooms. CDC has published interim recommendations that are intended to assist
personnel responsible for occupational health and safety in developing a comprehensive
program to reduce potential cutaneous or inhalation exposures to Bacillus
anthracis spores among workers in work sites where mail is handled or processed.
Detailed guidelines may be found on these Web sites:
- Share
- Add this to...
- Favorites
- Del.icio.us
- Digg
- Google Bookmarks
- Technorati
- Yahoo MyWeb
- Updates
- Subscribe
- Listen
- Page last updated November 19, 2012
Get email updates
To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address:
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348 - Contact CDC-INFO