In response to the recent problem with anthrax in the District, Georgetown postal workers have been advised to seek testing for anthrax and students are being advised to monitor their mail for suspicious packages or letters.
All mail sent to Georgetown University is first received at the Brentwood postal center. Upon learning that the Brentwood center tested positive for anthrax spores, Georgetown decided to treat each office that mail passed through as if it had been received directly from an infected office.
Mail en route to the Georgetown Main Campus and Law Center is forwarded from Brentwood to Friendship Heights where it is picked up by Georgetown postal employees. The mail is then delivered to the University’s Alexandria and Law Center post offices where it is sorted and delivered to the main campus.
Georgetown was quick to respond to threat of anthrax at its post offices, according to Juan Gonzalez, vice president of Student Affairs. He said that Georgetown responded with treatment and environmental testing more quickly than other secondary sites.
“We are operating with extraordinary caution and alertness,” Gonzalez said.
All employees at the Alexandria and Law Center post offices were advised to seek testing and treatment for anthrax. About 20 employees were given a seven-day dosage of Deoxycyclin, an anti-anthrax drug similar to Cipro, and a prescription for 53 additional days of treatment, if symptoms became visible.
Though no employees have reported symptoms of anthrax infection, one part-time postal employee resigned, stating that she did not want to take the risk of possible exposure, according to Margie Bryant, associate vice president for Auxiliary Services.
Students and members of the Georgetown community are urged by the University administration to continue to monitor their mail. Gonzalez said that students should look for suspicious packages, with characteristics such as misspelled words, no return address, lopsided appearance and incorrect postage.
Gonzalez said students should call the Department of Public Safety if any letters or packages appear to be unusual. “If there is anything suspicious, DPS gets the first call. They are prepared to coordinate response activity,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez also stated that, “this is not the time for jokes or pranks.” He said that everything that comes in will be taken seriously, and anyone playing a joke involving an anthrax scare will be dealt with in a serious manner.
Due to its affiliation with the hospital, Georgetown is well-informed and well-equipped to deal with any possible bioterrorism issues.
“We have a wide variety of resources with which to form a network to provide support for a variety of situations,” said Julie Green Bataille, assistant vice president for Communications.
