Amid lingering fears of anthrax-contaminated mail, four suspicious packages identified at UCSD were reported to campus police in the last two weeks. Of these four, one is now being stored in a freezer at the Environmental Health & Safety facility on campus.
The packages were reportedly found in the Institute of the Americas, Thornton Hospital, the Cognitive Science Building and in a Price Center restroom.
Receptionist Kristy Borman received the package reported at the Institute of the Americas.
Clark Martin of EH&S confirmed the department’s possession of the package, saying its outward appearance was not unusual.
“”There was nothing suspicious about it,”” Martin said. “”When the package was opened, it released a dust-like substance.””
Martin said the package will not be tested for anthrax. However, the letter will be kept in a sealed bag in a freezer. He said the freezer is also storing additional suspicious packages.
“”We probably have half a dozen in the freezer right now,”” Martin said. “”We are hanging onto them because people are so concerned that we aren’t testing them; but the tests are so expensive and inconclusive as to positive or negative.””
The package reported at Thornton Hospital was brought in for testing by a concerned UPS driver. A Thornton Hospital representative said the driver and the package were both tested by a San Diego County hazardous materials team. All tests for anthrax and other hazardous materials came back negative.
Thornton Hospital reports this as the first such incident at its facilities.
John Straight, who works in the Cognitive Science Building, received a package there Nov. 13 he thought to be suspicious and reported it to campus police. The package was from a former Salk Institute employee who wished to send a package to the Salk Institute through the UCSD laboratories.
The fourth package, reported Nov. 13, was found in the first-floor Price Center women’s restroom. EH&S was not brought in.
Sherry J. Hendrickson, patient services manager at UCSD’s Student Health Services center, acknowledged bioterrorism health concerns that students might have.
“”Students have come in thinking they might have smallpox,”” Hendrickson said. “”But none of the students had serious routes to exposure.””
Hendrickson said Student Health Services is ready to address medical problems stemming from bioterror.
Though real, Hendrickson said the threat should be kept in perspective.
“”It is important to be vigilant but not hysterical,”” she said.