Anthrax Scare in Elk County, PA

Anthrax scare at Freeper Hometown Post Office, Rural PA ^ | 23 October 2001 | wtaj tv10 Newsgeek

[Petronski]

ELK COUNTY ANTHRAX SCARE A anthrax scare, in Elk County, PA. A postal worker in Saint Mary's has developed a skin lesion on his arm. He's been treated with the antibiotic Cipro and is waiting for blood tests, but preliminary tests show no signs of anthrax. Postmaster Mike Barker said if the worker tests positive, they will have all employees checked and the building will be quarintined.

[Willie Green]

You're from this part of the country, aren't you? I recall with fondness your links to the Straub's brewery...

Pittsburgh is actually "home". But I worked in DuBois (Clearfield County) for 5 years. It's roughly 35 miles south of St. Mary's -- close enough in that neck of the woods.

IMHO, this is a very unlikely area to be targeted, but better to be safe than sorry.

I actually never cared much for Straub beer. But I strongly applaud their endurance as a tiny, independent brewery. I also mourn the loss of DuBois "Budweiser" beer -- but it makes for one heck of a good, TRUE story!

[pubmom]

I live in Indiana County, and I'm reading this thread with great interest!

[TroutStalker]

Thanks for the ping, Petronski. I am familiar with your location (I'm originally from Hollidaysburg). If it is a terrorist threat, the intent could be to show that no one in the country is safe by targeting communities of all sizes, chosen at random.

You may want to iron your mail with a steam iron for a while, and throw away the junk mail. I'll be waiting to hear the outcome. TS

[NittanyLion]

Thanks for the bump. In many ways mailing anthrax to random people would be worse than targeting high profile targets. Right now, the average person feels they're safe, since they're not media or congress.

[Petronski]

NOTHING NEW HERE, just a local paper's write-up:

St. Marys postal worker being tested for anthrax

By MERRILL GONZALEZ / Era Reporter

ST. MARYS -- A St. Marys postal worker went to Elk Regional Health Center Monday for anthrax testing because of a skin lesion found on his arm.

The postal worker alerted supervisors of the suspicious lesion, which popped up while he was working.

Mike Barker, St. Marys post master, said the man was sent immediately to the hospital for testing that included a skin biopsy and blood work.

Barker added the size of the lesion was about the size of a quarter, and the man is taking antibiotics as a precautionary measure. He said the hospital told him it should have results as soon as today, but that tests can take from two to five days for results.

The postal headquarters provided information to the post office on precautions that should be taken, which helped workers to be prepared for anything suspicious, including a sudden skin lesion such as the one found on the man's arm.

"We will do the same for any employees," (should the need arise) Barker said. He added that the post office is offering its employees gloves and masks for their protection, as it has been doing since the anthrax incidents have come to the forefront of the country's concern.

"We are being cautious with everything that comes through, visually looking at (items) closely," Barker continued. "We'll know more as soon as we get results."

If the postal employee tests positive, Barker said all workers would have to be tested and the building looked into as well.

St. Marys Police Officer John Lovett confirmed police were told the test results should be in today regarding this incident, adding, "thus far, the testing is negative."

Lovett said he was told by postal workers that the man hadn't handled any suspicious packages. "It was a good idea to be tested," said Lovett, but added that, "We don't want to cause a panic."

An Elk Regional nursing supervisor said test results were not in and an anthrax infection could not be confirmed.

St. Marys Police Chief Gary Eckert said a press release will be available as soon as results are in.

A call to the hospital's emergency room doctor for more information went unanswered.

[Petronski]

NOON UPDATE on ST. MARYS PA postal worker:

BLOOD TEST RESULTS NOT YET READY

[LikeLight]

Thanks for keeping us up to date. Just stopped in Ridgeway to get gas at the Sheetz this past Sunday. Was thinking, now here's a safe area from terrorism (they'd never find it, or so I thought).

[Petronski]

Was thinking, now here's a safe area from terrorism (they'd never find it, or so I thought).

I just had a similar conversation with my pharmacist:

Here?!?

[Petronski]

Still no word on the results of the blood tests on the patient listed above. State Health Department says results are not back yet.

The lesion has DARKENED IN COLOR.

There are no other signs of illness. FBI says keep all garbage, secure dumpster.

[Petronski]

Post office has provided gloves and masks to workers, who are said to be remaining calm. The office was flooded with calls today. No word was given in report as to when the results might be available.

[Petronski]

Ping. No results yet.

My apologies to those whom I have not pinged.

[pubmom]

Thanks, I do appreciate it.

[Merovingian]

Thanks, Petronski, I have been wondering..Hoping for the best.

[AmericanGurl]

Thanks for the ping! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a negative. I'm now very far from you, have friends who have a cabin in Bradford.

[airborne]

Keep up the good reports. I was in St. Mary last weekend for a wheelchair basketball game. Bookmarked for further info.

[tamu]

thanks for the update, Petronski.
here's to your diligent reporting!!

[Petronski]

HERE'S A DEVELOPMENT:

His lesion was shown on television again tonight and it is worsening. Picture a nickel. The lesion is about that size, and there is a darkened (not black, but quite dark) area about the shape of--but perhaps 70% the size of--the Monticello depicted on the back of a nickel.

There is still no word on the tests, but as I said, the FBI has instructed the local postmaster to save everything (discard nothing) and to secure the facility's dumpster.

[Merovingian]

Hmmm There is something missing in all of this. If it is cutaneous anthrax, why just this guy? This certainly is a drip drip drip psyops torture thing if it is anthrax.

[Petronski]

My theory for this incident, if it involves Anthrax at all, was that it was NOT targeted. Instead, some junk mail fliers or other mail passed through the contaminated facility in Maryland or New Jersey on its way here and a 'spot' of it was placed on the mail. Later, when our local victim made a stack of them ready for the garbage, he loaded them up in his arms and carried them to the trash. Out of that bundle spilled or otherwise came the contaminant, lodging on his arm.

Lieutenant Columbo I ain't, but I'd bet anything that if this is anthrax, it arrived here as a 'smudge' leftover from elsewhere--an accidental tourist, so to speak.

[Petronski]

I would ask that all those kind souls whose eyes fall on this thread before 4pm Thursday 24 October please offer a short prayer for my girlfriend, who is undergoing eye surgery at noon in Pittsburgh (AGH). The procedure is neither routine nor life threatening, but it has made us all very nervous.

Thank you in advance.