Ricin Discovered at Senate Office Building

Burrus Update #02-04, Feb. 3, 2004

Tests have confirmed the presence of ricin, a deadly poison, found Feb. 2 in the mail room of the office of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and federal law enforcement officials have assumed control of the suspicious material and the area where the material was identified. The "V" Street postal facility in Washington, DC, where government mail is processed, has been closed as a precaution, and its employees have been reassigned to other facilities.

No employees of Sen. Frist's office or the Postal Service have reported symptoms of possible exposure.

At this time, I have received no information beyond what has been reported in the news regarding the discovery of ricin, but as additional information becomes available, we will share it with you. Corey Thompson, APWU's Safety Specialist, is monitoring events and is available to assist local presidents with safety concerns.

As of this writing, tests results have not been received on a suspicious piece of mail that was discovered at the processing and distribution facility in Wallingford, CT.

For additional facts on ricin, visit www.apwu.org.

William Burrus
President

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