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Anthrax / Bioterrorism
Volunteering with Pomperaug
Health District
All documents
below are in Adobe Acrobat format. To get the free reader click
the "Get Acrobat Reader" to the left.
Smallpox
- FAQ
Smallpox
- Section 304 Homeland Security Act.
PDDH
- Volunteer Form
PDDH
- Volunteer Recruiting
Inhalational Anthrax Symptoms
The first
ten cases of inhalational anthrax in the United States all had
early symptoms lasting 3-7 days before being admitted to a hospital.
While initial symptoms varied, all ten cases reported chills and
fever and a feeling of fatigue or malaise. The list below offers
a comparison of symptoms for inhalational anthrax and influenza.:
Many other
respiratory viruses also have these symptoms. However, the symptoms
rarely include shortness of breath and often include runny nose,
which is not usually a symptoms of anthrax. Person who
are experiencing flu-like symptoms should see their physician.
Depending on the person’s history, the physician may perform
laboratory testing to rule out anthrax. Handling
Mail
The Pomperaug
District Department of Health offers the some guidelines to persons
who may be concerned about handling mail. If you receive a piece
of suspicious mail, call the police. Handle it with care - do
not shake it, bump it, or sniff it. Isolate it immediately. Wash
your hands thoroughly with soap and water. A piece of mail should
be considered suspicious if:
- It’s
unexpected or from someone you don’t know
- It’s
addressed to someone no longer at your address
- It’s
handwritten and has no return address or bears one that you
cannot confirm is legitimate
- It’s
lopsided or lumpy in appearance
- It’s
sealed with excessive amounts of tape
- It’s
marked with restrictive endorsements such as “Personal”
or “Confidential”
- It has
excessive postage
If you are
concerned about non-suspicious mail, wash your hands immediately
after handling it.
Links:
Center for
Disease Control
State
of Ct Dept. of Public Health
US Army
Infectious Disease
Homeland Security
Food
and Drug Administration
John
Hopkins
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