Mich., Ill. Postal Facilities Get Anthrax Detectors

The U.S. Postal Service plans to install in its main Lansing, Mich., facility five machines capable of detecting anthrax in the mail, the Lansing State Journal reported today (see GSN, July 19).

The Biohazard Detection Systems, described by postal workers as “extremely accurate at detecting anthrax,” are expected to be installed by Aug. 5, according to the State Journal (Khristopher Brooks, Lansing State Journal, July 20).

Meanwhile, the Postal Service’s processing and distributing facility in Milan, Ill., began using the Biohazard Detection System yesterday, the Quad-City Times reported.

The Milan facility employs 240 people and processes 1.5 million pieces of mail each night for 140 post offices.

“This is the place where the anthrax would end up if it were dropped into one of our collection boxes,” said facility manager Dennis Schoening.

The Biohazard Detection System to date has been installed at 114 postal facilities. The Postal Service plans to install the system in 282 facilities across the country (David Heitz, Quad-City Times, July 20).

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