Subject: Background Information from the Consular Section of the American Embassy in Tokyo, October 16, 2001 The Department of State has no new safety or security information subsequent to the Worldwide caution issued on October 7. If we should become aware of any specific and credible threat to the safety and security of American citizens in Japan, that information will be provided to you by every available means. We do not publish these emails on any schedule; instead, we release them only as new information becomes available. ------------------------------------------------------- RUMORS ------------------------------------------------------- Many people have contacted the Embassy in relation to rumors and threats they have heard. In any instance where you believe a threat exists, please contact the Japanese police, who are able to assist in such matters where the Embassy cannot. The Embassy has no police powers and cannot investigate suspicious persons or activities. Information of value to law enforcement agencies in the U.S. should be reported to the Embassy's Regional Security Office at 03-3224-5583. In addition, we ask all Americans to examine each rumor/threat/concern with a critical eye. The letters sent to Americans from Brunei (which caused many people to fear that the envelopes contained anthrax) were mailed to customers of Global Healthcare. Global confirms that they contracted to send the letters to its customers, and the mailing firm routed the mailings through Brunei. The envelopes have the former Global address covered with the Brunei return address stamp/label, which refers to a "Lockbox #8" in Brunei. Global can be reached in Japan at 06-4706-7701. Persons with different envelopes or other concerns about mail should contact the Japanese police. In addition, recent concerns that caused one Tokyo international school to close appear to be localized versions of an Internet "urban myth" that involved a person being "tipped off" to a terrorist action by a Middle Eastern friend. You can read the Internet version at http://www.snopes2.com/rumors/warning.htm It is not our intent to use these emailed messages to respond to every rumor overheard; rather, we offer these two recent specific examples to suggest how misinformation may spread, and to encourage Americans to carefully evaluate information they receive before acting on it. ---------------------------------------------------- ANTHRAX ---------------------------------------------------- The U.S. Government has no information to indicate a specific or credible threat from chemical or biological agents against targets in Japan or elsewhere in the world. More information on anthrax is available online at: Responding to a Biological or Chemical Threat http://ds.state.gov/publications/biochem.pdf Information on Anthrax from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax_g.htm Anthrax as a Biological Weapon, from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v281n18/ffull/jst80027.html -------------------------------------------------- REGISTRATION -------------------------------------------------- All Amercians are urged to register with the Embassy. You can now register online-details are on our redesigned web site at our new address, http://www.tokyoacs.com You may also register by FAX; a downloadable form is on our website. -------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -------------------------------------------------- Terrorism: Preparing for the Unexpected, an online pamphlet produced by the American Red Cross. http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/unexpect ed.html Personal Safety publications from the Department of State's Office of Diplomatic Security. http://ds.state.gov/publications/keepingsafe.htm Creating a Comprehensive Emergency Procedures Manual for Overseas Schools from the Department of State's Overseas Schools Advisory Council. http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwfscho.pdf General travel and safety information, from the Federal Aviation Administration. http://www.faa.gov/apa/traveler.htm Links to non-U.S. Government Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein. ========================== Recommendations Issued by the National Center for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov, on October 12, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------- 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 ------------------------------------------------------- 1. Anthrax organisms can cause infection in the skin, gastrointestinal system, or the lungs. To do, 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. 2. 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. ------------------------------------------------------- SUSPICIOUS UNOPENED LETTER OR PACKAGE MARKED WITH THREATENING MESSAGE SUCH AS "ANTHRAX": ------------------------------------------------------- 1. Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package. 2. PLACE the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of container to prevent leakage of contents. 3. 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. 4. Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away). 5. WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face. 6. Report the incident to local police. 7. 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. ------------------------------------------------------- ENVELOPE WITH POWDER AND POWDER SPILLS OUT ONTO SURFACE: ------------------------------------------------------- 1. DO NOT try to CLEAN UP the powder. COVER the spilled contents immediately with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this cover! 2. Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away). 3. WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face. 4. Report the incident to local police. 5. REMOVE heavily contaminated clothing as soon as possible and place in a plastic bag, or some other container that can be sealed. This clothing bag should be given to the emergency responders for proper handling. 6. SHOWER with soap and water as soon as possible. Do Not Use Bleach Or Other Disinfectant On Your Skin. 7. If possible, list all people who were in the room or area, especially those who had actual contact with the powder. Give this list to both the local public health authorities so that proper instructions can be given for medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials for further investigation. ------------------------------------------------------- QUESTION OF ROOM CONTAMINATION BY AEROSOLIZATION: ------------------------------------------------------- For example: small device triggered, warning that air handling system is contaminated, or warning that a biological agent released in a public space. 1. Turn off local fans or ventilation units in the area. 2. LEAVE area immediately. 3. CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away). 4. Report the incident to local police. 5. SHUT down air handling system in the building, if possible. 6. If possible, list all people who were in the room or area. Give this list to both the local public health authorities so that proper instructions can be given for medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials for further investigation. ------------------------------------------------------- HOW TO IDENTIFY SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES AND LETTERS: ------------------------------------------------------- Some characteristics of suspicious packages and letters include the following: Excessive postage Handwritten or poorly typed addresses Incorrect titles Title, but no name Misspellings of common words Oily stains, discoloration or odor No return address Excessive weight Lopsided or uneven envelope Protruding wires or aluminum foil Excessive security material such as masking tape, string, etc. Visual distractions Ticking sound Marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or "Confidential" Shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address