Pennsylvania Issues Powder Warning

The state of Pennsylvania has advised hospitals and other health care agencies against opening mailings from a New York marketing firm that might contain a white powder, the Somerset Daily American reported today (see GSN, June 8).

Roughly 4,000 Positive Promotions mailings went out this week to hospitals, home health agencies and hospice organizations in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio, according to the Health Alliance of Pennsylvania.

There have been no reports of illness connected to the mailings, and the FBI has not received any terror threats, according to the Daily American.  The Pennsylvania Health Department, however, has advised against opening the mailings.

One sample from a mailing opened Tuesday came up slightly positive for the botulinum toxin under rapid testing.  Results from subsequent laboratory testing were “indeterminate,” according to the Health Department.  The state is conducting additional tests, with initial results coming back negative.

Positive Promotions said it used corn starch in the mailing process (Dan DiPaolo, The Daily American, Aug. 24).

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.