ATHENS, Ohio -- Although the likelihood of bioterrorism activities at Ohio University is remote, university officials are prepared for possible incidents. Ongoing efforts include informing members of the campus community what to do if they encounter mail or direct deliveries with a suspicious powdery or foreign substance.

Ohio University Mail Services has established guidelines for employees who find mail with an unknown powdery substance believed to be Anthrax or some other hazardous material. The first step for someone on campus is to immediately contact the Ohio University Police Department at (740) 593-1911. Off campus or regional campus incidents should be immediately reported to the local police departments.

Ohio University is advising potential victims to avoid contaminating other areas or people by refraining from moving about until authorities arrive at the scene. Also move away from the suspicious letter or package and do not touch anything. Law enforcement officials will contact the appropriate emergency personnel. Ohio University Environmental Health and Safety and Health Service personnel are among those who will be called to the potential crime scene of an on-campus incident. They have procedures in place to assess the situation and assist the involved individuals.

According to Mail Services, the best defense against bioterrorism is to isolate and not open suspicious mail. Suspicious mail is defined as letters and packages that contain a postmark different than the return address, restrictive markings such as "personal," excessive postage or tape, wrong job title with name, rigid or bulky envelope, protruding wires, a strange odor, oil stains or misspelled words.

For precautionary reasons, Mail Services and Athens Post Office employees have recently been offered gloves and dust masks and both are being extremely careful about the mail they handle. Officials at the Athens Post Office say common sense is the best defense against bioterrorism.

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by spore-forming bacterium commonly associated with wild and domestic animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, camels and other animals that feed primarily on vegetable matter.

The disease affects humans in three forms, cutaneous (skin), inhalation and gastrointestinal and is spread through handling products from infected animals or by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products. Anthrax is not contagious and is unlikely to be spread person-to-person.

Anthrax symptoms include an itchy bump resembling an insect bite, swelling of lymph glands, cold-like symptoms, inflammation of the intestinal tract, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever followed by abdominal pain and severe diarrhea.

Anthrax vaccinations are recommended only to people with a high risk of exposure to the disease, mainly people who work with animals and military personnel who may be exposed to it as a biological warfare tool.

For more information about Anthrax and bioterrorism, visit Ohio University's Department of Environmental Health and Safety at: www-ehs.hudson.ohiou.edu.