CDC Issues Warning After Ricin Container Found

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned medical workers on Friday to be aware of possible ricin attacks after a package containing the dangerous agent was discovered at a mail processing facility in South Carolina (see GSN, Oct. 24).

The package — which was sealed — was discovered Oct. 15 with a note that threatened to contaminate water supplies, according to the University of Minnesota’s CIDRAP News.

Until the person behind the mailing is apprehended, “health care providers and public health officials must consider ricin to be a potential public health threat and be vigilant about recognizing illness consistent with ricin exposure,” the CDC said.

Authorities have not found any environmental contamination at the South Carolina facility, according to the CDC (CIDRAP News (University of Minnesota), Nov. 20).

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