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Healthcare Provider Information
Address:
Garrett Co. Health Dept.
1025 Memorial Drive
Oakland, MD 21550
Main Phone:
301-334-7777
or 301-895-3111
FAX: 301-334-7701
See department pages for individual phone numbers
E-Mail Webmaster
March 23, 2005 - A “white-powder” incident occurred at the Garrett County District Court on Monday, March 21 at 1:00 pm. Personnel in that office opened an envelope addressed to the court that contained a threatening letter, and a small quantity of white powder.
This is a type of suspected bioterrorism event at which exposure of citizens occurs to an unidentified substance distributed in a suspicious or unusual manner. It was handled expeditiously by protocol in the county bioterrorism plan. (Appendix DD ) Local healthcare providers cooperated in advising their patients for whom preventive medication had been recommended, as to special allergies, or susceptibility to side effects of the recommended medications. Preventive treatment recommendations were taken from the state communicable disease guidelines.
The Garrett County Sheriff's office, Oakland Town Police, Garrett County Health Department Emergency Response Team, and emergency staff from Garrett Memorial Hospital responded to the incident. Six persons were identified at the scene as possibly having had significant exposure: These persons were guided through steps to limit further exposure or contamination of others, and were recommended to begin prophylaxis for Anthrax. As a further precaution, all individuals in the Courtroom and waiting room were immediately evacuated from the building. These individuals were not deemed to be at risk from exposure to the contents of the envelope. However their names and phone numbers were taken in the event that they would need to be contacted related to concerns they might have.
The HazMat team from Allegany County responded to the event and packaged the letter and contents for shipment to the State Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene Laboratory in Baltimore . The sample was driven to Baltimore by the Maryland State Police and testing began Monday night. Preliminary results were received Tuesday afternoon, and reported as negative for Anthrax spores. With this information, persons started on preventive medication were advised they could stop taking medication. Final culture reports are expected Friday.
While in all probability this was a hoax to disrupt district court operations, a threatening letter such as this containing a powder must be taken seriously. Certainly mailing such a letter is a serious criminal violation and this incident is under investigation by local and state law enforcement agencies. We understand that a similar letter was received at a district court building in Worcester County