Anthrax tests processed

Monday, Nov. 19, 2001 | 9:46 a.m.

The results of tests taken Sunday at the main U.S. Postal Service sorting center in Las Vegas won't be known for seven-to-10 days, local official say, noting they do not expect that the potentially deadly bacteria was found.

"This was part of an aggressive, precautionary plan to assure the public and our workers that conditions are safe at the postal service," said Ken McArthur, manager of the main postal facility on Sunset Road that is part of a nationwide plan to test 260 major post offices.

On Sunday, URS Corp., an environmental inspection firm based in Cincinnati, took 37 samples from postal sorting equipment, the ventilation system and other areas during a two-hour procedure that McArthur said caused "no disruption" of work.

The 120 postal workers on duty, mostly mail sorters, were moved around to work at other stations as various areas were tested, McArthur said.

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, anthrax, a bacteria that can be used in chemical warfare, has been found at several East Coast post offices. Also, letters laced with anthrax have been linked to four deaths.