Governor Gilmore Announces Establishment of Anthrax Treatment Sites for Mail Room Workers

Governor Gilmore Announces Establishment of Anthrax Treatment Sites for Mail Room Workers

RICHMOND -- Governor Jim Gilmore today announced the establishment of three regional treatment sites for certain Virginia mail room workers to receive preventative treatment for potential exposure to anthrax. Beginning Saturday, Virginia residents who are recommended for treatment will receive preventative drugs from a regional treatment center.

"Virginia is working with the federal and local authorities to make sure our citizens are safe," said Governor Gilmore. "Virginians are entitled to every bit of protection we can provide for them."

A Virginia resident who processes mail for the State Department Annex in Sterling, Virginia was admitted to a Winchester hospital and was confirmed yesterday to have inhalational anthrax. The site where the employee works receives mail that was processed at the Brentwood Post Office in the District of Columbia. The source of the exposure to anthrax is presumed to be through his mail-handling work.

The Virginia Department of Health is establishing a large regional treatment site in Northern Virginia at the Fairfax Government Center opening from 9:00 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. In addition, the Prince William Health Department and Loudon County Health Department will open treatment sites beginning Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 10 p.m. At the regional sites, Virginia residents recommended for treatment will receive 10 days of the drug Cipro.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is currently recommending that all people who have been in the non-public, mail operations area at the U.S. Postal Service's Brentwood Facility since October 11, 2001, receive preventative treatment for potential exposure to anthrax. The CDC is also issuing recommendations for all individuals who have worked since October 11 in non-public, mail operations areas at postal facilities that directly receive mail processed at the Brentwood facility to receive preventative treatment

###