This is an official
CDC HEALTH ADVISORY
Distributed via Health Alert Network
Wednesday, October 24, 2001, 22:30 EDT (10:30 PM EDT)
CDCHAN-00046-2001-10-24-ADV-N
CDC Statement Regarding the Washington DC Processing and Distribution Center, and Postal and
Mailroom Facilities Who Directly Receive and Distribute Mail from this Center
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommends that all people who have been in the non-public, mail
operations area at the U.S. Postal Service’s Washington DC Processing and Distribution Center at 900 Brentwood Road, NE, Washington DC (US Postal Brentwood Facility)
since October 11, 2001, receive prophylactic treatment for
potential exposure to anthrax. This facility has been closed. As an added
precaution, people who have worked since October 11, 2001, in the non-public, mail operations
area at postal facilities that directly receive mail from the Brentwood facility should also receive
prophylactic treatment. There are no reported or documented cases of anthrax or
contamination in these additional facilities, and CDC recommends they remain
open. The U.S. Postal Service, in conjunction with the Health Departments of
the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, and CDC, is identifying and
contacting these facilities.
Visitors at the Brentwood facility who should receive prophylactic treatment
are defined as vendors, contractors, and persons who handle mail in the
mailroom bulk mail acceptance unit. It is not necessary for customers who
entered any U.S. Postal facility to purchase stamps or conduct other postal
business to receive prophylactic treatment.
Only the persons described above who are currently located
in the metropolitan DC area or surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia should seek these services from the
DC General Hospital, 1900 Massachusetts Avenue from 9:00 A.M. - 10 P.M. Those located outside the
metropolitan DC area should seek these services from their state or local
health department or private physician. DC General Hospital is accessible by METROrail (Orange and Blue Lines/Armory Stadium
Station).
CDC’s investigation is ongoing. Future modifications to
these recommendations may occur on the basis of new epidemiologic and
laboratory information.
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Categories of Health Alert messages:
Health Alert- conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.
Health Advisory- provides important information for a specific incident or
situation; may not require immediate action.
Health Update- provides updated information regarding an incident or
situation; unlikely to require immediate action.
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