State to test six buildings for anthrax

The State of Iowa is testing the mailrooms in six state facilities for anthrax. State Department of Public Health spokesman Kevin Teale says the tests are strictly a precaution.Teale says there’s been no anthrax found in any state building, and they don’t expect to find any. Teale says the tests will let them know for sure these facilities are clean.He says the tests will give them a baseline, as there’s no pending threat. Teale says if something happens down the road, they can go back and say they tested in mid-November and go from there.Teale says five of the mailrooms are in buildings in Des Moines, and one is in Oakdale.These facilities were picked because they get a large volume of mail and much of the mail is “bulk mail.” In Des Moines, the tests will be conducted at the Department of Education, the Department of Revenue and Finance, the Department of General Services mailrooms in the Hoover and Grimes buildings, and the Department of Personnel’s IPERS offices. The Oakdale building at the Iowa Medical Classification Center will also be tested.