West Nile Virus, Anthrax Alerts & Keep Mail Safe Instructions

Stop West Nile In Fulton Task Force

Mosquito Hotline
404-730-5296

Dead Bird Pick-up
404-524-7368

Sponsored by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
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WEST NILE VIRUS HOMEOWNER CHECKLIST
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The best protection from the West Nile Virus is to:
1. Reduce the number of mosquito bites
you receive.
2. Remove all standing water in the
area where you live.
3. Complete the following safety
checklist. Protect Yourself:
a. Wear long pants, long sleeved shirts
and socks.
b. Use insect repellent containing DEET
(N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide)
(Note: Read carefully & follow manufacturer's instructions.)

Do not use on infants or pregnant women.

Eliminate Standing Water that Collects on Your Property.
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a. Dispose of cans, old tires,
bottles, jars, buckets, drums,
ceramic pots and other containers,
or make sure they contain no
standing water.
b. Clean clogged gutters and/or slope
to downspouts.
c. Drain improperly installed and
sagging swimming pool covers.
d. Change the water in birdbaths at
least twice weekly.
e. Clean and chlorinate swimming
pools, outdoor spas, saunas and hot
tubs-if not in use, keep them empty
and covered.
f. Change water and scrub
containers/vases holding plants
twice weekly.
g. Empty your pet's watering pan daily.
h. Repair leaky pipes and faucets.
i. Screen rain barrels and openings to
water tanks.
j. Eliminate weeds, tall grass and
other nmosquito breeding places.
k. Use larvicide where standing water
cannot be removed or fill holes.
l. Stock ornamental ponds with
mosquito eating fish.
m. Remind neighbors to eliminate
breeding sites on their property.

WHEN IN DOUBT, DUMP IT OUT!

You may be raising mosquitoes in your home and yard. Mosquitoes carry serious diseases such encephalitis, yellow fever, dengueand malaria.

It's a fact...mosquitoes need water to breed. They can breed in any puddle or standing water that remains more than four days. By removing areas of standing water around your house, you will eliminate their breeding grounds and reduce the number of mosquitoes.

Some mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water where they hatch in a day or two. Other mosquitoes lay their eggs in old tires, tin cans, or other water-holding containers in which they may remain unhatched for weeks or months until they are covered with water. Mosquito larvae grow quickly and turn into pupae. Soon the skin of the pupae splits open and out climbs another hungry mosquito.

Fulton County Department of Health & Wellness wants you to STOP MOSQUITOES!

CHECK YOUR YARD AND HOME!!!

ANTHRAX & OTHER BIOLOGICAL AGENT PROCEDURES

KNOW WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF ANTHRAX EXPOSURE

This is an official CDC Health Advisory

Distributed via Health Alert Network October 12, 2001, 21:00 EDT (9:00 PM EDT)

HOW TO HANDLE ANTHRAX AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL AGENT THREATS

Many facilities in communities around the country have received anthrax threat letters. Most were empty envelopes; some have contained powdery substances. The purpose of these guidelines is to recommend procedures for handling such incidents.

DO NOT PANIC

Anthrax organisms can cause infection in the skin, gastrointestinal system, or the lungs. To do, so the organism must be rubbed into abraded skin, swallowed, or inhaled as a fine, aerosolized mist. Disease can be prevented after exposure to the anthrax spores by early treatment with the appropriate antibiotics. Anthrax is not spread from one person to another person.

For anthrax to be effective as a covert agent, it must be aerosolized into very small particles. This is difficult to do, and requires a great deal of technical skill and special equipment. If these small particles are inhaled, life-threatening lung infection can occur, but prompt recognition and treatment are effective.
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SUSPICIOUS UNOPENED LETTER OR PACKAGE MARKED ANTHRAX
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DO NOT shake, open or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package.

PLACE the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container to prevent leakage of contents.

If you do not have any container, then COVER the envelope or package with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this cover.

Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).

WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.

What to do next…

If you are at work, then report the incident to your building security official or an available supervisor who should notify police and other authorities.

If you are at home, then report the incident to local police.

LIST all people who were in the room or area when this suspicious letter or package was recognized. Give this list to both the local public health authorities and law enforcement officials for follow-up investigations and advice.

How likely is it that someone would receive anthrax or other terrorist-related biological agents in the mail?
Data from the US Postal Service shows that over 200 billion pieces of mail are delivered each year. During the last year, of these billions of pieces of mail, they only received approximately 60 threats or hoaxes which included anthrax, hoof and mouth disease, the Klingerman virus hoax and others.

Local, state, and Federal health and emergency program officials are prepared to deal with terrorist activities involving release of anthrax spores. The Postal Service is coordinating with these officials to ensure quick and effective response to any such activities. The remote, but real, possibility that anthrax will be introduced into the mail stream requires that the above outlined procedures be strictly followed.


WHAT CONSTITUTES A SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE?
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Some typical characteristics Postal Inspectors have detected over the years, which ought to trigger suspicion, include parcels that:

are unexpected or from someone unfamiliar to you.

are addressed to someone no longer with your organization or are otherwise outdated.

have no return address, or have one that can't be verified as legitimate.
are of unusual weight, given their size, or are lopsided or oddly shaped.
are marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or "Confidential."

have protruding wires, strange odors or stains.

show a city or state in the postmark that doesn't match the return address.
If you encounter a suspicious looking mail piece(s), follow the procedures outlined and report it to your supervisor/manager immediately.

The information provided is courtesy of our Atlanta Fire Department - Station #20.

Links

City of Atlanta Atlanta Fire Department
City of Atlanta Fire Department/Information Page