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Tests on Suspicious Powder Samples Prove Negative

OSU was informed at about 7:05 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 16, that no living organizms were found in two samples submitted to the State Department of Health Tuesday afternoon. OSU had implemented its emergency bio-hazard procedures Tuesday after workers found a suspicious powder in two campus locations.

Tests conducted in an OSU laboratory found no evidence that the material was harmful; however, OSU sent samples to the State Department of Health for a definitive answer, and OSU continued its own tests of the materials. In addition, all materials in the incidents were isolated and contained, and all persons who came in contact with the materials were kept under observation and given appropriate medical treatment.

Officials said that mail room workers had discovered a powder coming from a small box received by OSU's University Mailing Services. The office is OSU's central point for incoming and outgoing mail.

Butch Hiatt, University Mailing Services manager, said two mailing room workers discovered the powder Tuesday morning and immediately sealed it in plastic and called OSU Police, as well as OSU's Environmental Health and Safety Services (EHS). Hiatt said his staff had been training for such a scenario and had gloves, bags and other equipment on hand.

OSU Police Chief Everett Eaton said the affected area was sealed off, and the package was taken to a university laboratory for testing.

Hiatt said EHS cleaned and disinfected all areas where the parcel had been placed. EHS personnel also cleaned and disinfected all packages that came in on the same carrier and all packages that were in the area at the time. Delivery of all parcels from the area was immediately suspended.

Hiatt said the incident affected overnight and express mail packages only. All U.S. mail and inter-office campus mail is sorted and processed in another part of the building and was not affected.

Eaton said the two workers were isolated in a conference room immediately after the incident .

Steve Rogers, director of University Health Services, says OSU is prepared for such an incident and has Cipro, the recommended antibiotic for anthrax, on hand. Throughout the incident, OSU was in contact with the Oklahoma State Department of Health and worked under their supervision and cooperation. The university also notified the FBI and the Centers for Disease Control.

In the other reported case, lab tests were conducted on a powder that was found on a box of food items that are sold in university vending machines. The box was never opened, and none of the items ended up in any vending machine. Seven machines containing similar products from the same shipment were taken off line as a precaution, pending results of the tests.

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