THE ANTHRAX SCARE
Anthrax post scare
alters some
residents’ habits
But others say they aren't worried
about receiving tainted mailTighter security has Inouye, Mink
rerouting mail to Honolulu officesBy B.J. Reyes
breyes@starbulletin.comA bank statement. A credit card application. Bills. Walking out of the Makiki post office after retrieving his mail, Johnny Potter didn't see anything that he would consider suspicious.
Still, count him among those who plan to heed the advice from the postmaster general that people should wash their hands after handling mail to guard against exposure to anthrax.
"Oh yeah, definitely," said Potter, of Waikiki. "These guys (terrorists) are very smart. They know what they're doing. They can use my bank, they can use my bills, they can use any envelope -- it's really scary."
His sentiments reflect growing concerns nationwide as the number of people testing positive for anthrax slowly creeps upward.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday identified 15 cases of confirmed or suspected anthrax among Americans, adding that the bacteria had been spread intentionally through mail and package deliveries.
A day earlier, the postmaster general said he could not guarantee the safety of mail and suggested that people wash hands after handling letters.
Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, CDC director, said yesterday there were no signs anthrax contamination had spread to home mail deliveries, but added that it was not a bad idea, from a disease-control perspective, for Americans to wash their hands after handling the mail, especially if it made them feel more comfortable.
"It doesn't make me worry, but it makes me think that we have to be a little bit more cautious," said Reyn Tsuru, director of the temple Shingon Shu Hawaii.
As far as washing his hands: "Now I will. Definitely."
Among those who won't wash up after handling the mail is Gig Greenwood, a commercial photographer from Makakilo.
"I think that's going overboard," Greenwood said yesterday while thumbing through mail he had picked up from his post office box.
"They're not going to send it to Hawaii. They're not going to send it to Boise, Idaho. They're not going to send it to Austin, Texas," he said. "They're only going to send it to places where the publicity's going to come out -- to newspapers and to congressional delegates.
"I'm not worried about it."
Bonnie Rostan, 25, said she also has no plans to change her mail-handling habits. Aside from not wanting to let terrorists dictate how she lives her life, the University of Hawaii student considers the prospect of anthrax in the mail to be just another risk.
"I try and just live my life happily day to day and not worry too much about any number of bad things that could happen on a daily basis," Rostan said. "This is just yet another threat, like motor vehicles."
As for the package she had just picked up at the Makakilo station, Rostan said there definitely was no need to take any precautions.
"I know this is safe," Rostan said. "It's from my mom."
Reuters news service contributed to this report.
As federal offices in Washington, D.C., remain closed amid heightened security, some members of Hawaii's congressional delegation are asking constituents to contact them through their Honolulu offices. Tighter security has Inouye,
Mink rerouting mail
to Honolulu officesStar-Bulletin staff
"I am not sure how long it will be before the Senate Hart Office Building will be open for business," said U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye in asking constituents to address mail to his Hawaii office.
U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink said recent security measures included the suspension of mail Oct. 12. Any mail sent from Hawaii to Washington will not reach Mink until Oct. 29 at the earliest, her office said.
Staff members in Washington said they remain in regular contact with their Honolulu offices.
Spokesmen for U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie said their offices have not made similar requests.
Akaka spokesman Paul Cardus said any correspondence that requires immediate attention is already routed through the Honolulu office. Abercrombie spokesman Mike Slackman said his staff is "playing it by ear" and expects offices on Capitol Hill to reopen soon.
Local addresses for Hawaii's congressional delegation:
>> U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye: Prince Kuhio Federal Building, 300 Ala Moana, Suite 7-212, Honolulu 96850. Fax: (808) 541-2549.
>> U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka: Prince Kuhio Federal Building, 300 Ala Moana, Suite 3-106, Honolulu 96850. Fax: (808) 545-4683.
>> U.S. Rep. Patsy T. Mink: P.O. Box 50124, Honolulu 96850. Fax: (808) 538-0233.
>> U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie: Prince Kuhio Federal Building, 300 Ala Moana, Suite 4-104, Honolulu 96850. Fax: (808) 533-0133.
