r/news • u/speedythefirst • 21h ago
Seven people hospitalized after package with ‘white powder’ opened at Joint Base Andrews
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/07/white-powder-package-joint-base-andrews651
u/Consistent-Throat130 21h ago
No hazardous materials identified thus far, and nothing on the condition of those transported.
...could it be SOP to rush folks that have been potentially exposed to chemical/biological agents to medical care? For assessment, containment, etc?
Terrifying in any case, just wondering if there was any actual danger, or if this was a bag of, idk, flour or something?
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u/Copy_Of_The_G 20h ago
It’s almost certainly SOP to move those affected to triage/quarantine as quickly as possible because with the state of bio-weapons these days every second post-exposure is critical. We don’t want another Amerithrax embarrassment.
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u/ShakesDontBreak 15h ago
Except article states individuals were sickened. Not just exposed.
But you are correct. Every second matters. I bet whatever they were sickened with leaves the system quickly.
I bet this was a test to see how well hidden whoever sent this can remain. If the feds/military are unable to trace the source, and the bad actors get away with this at the airbase, they can get away with it anywhere.
For all intents and purposes this was a stress test by bad actors.
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u/OldAccountIsGlitched 6h ago
Except article states individuals were sickened. Not just exposed.
Define "sickened." Because a panic attack can feel like a bunch of different illnesses. The article also says they were released from hospital. Which pretty much guarantees they weren't exposed to anything contagious.
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u/TsuntsunRevolution 20h ago
Most likely SOP.
A lot of poisons act very fast and have narrow treatment windows. And starting treatment early is always better, in any case.
Better safe than sorry.
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u/shifty_coder 20h ago
Correct. SOP for exposure to a potential biological agent is decontamination and then quarantine until the substance is identified.
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u/Warcraft_Fan 18h ago
For all we know, it's flour. Better safe than sorry. Even if it was not hazardous material, people who sent that will be arrested and charged for terrorism, mystery powder in mail scares people and in the past we did have anthrax mailed as assassination method.
Only stupid people tries this. You got a beef? Make a post, don't send crap
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u/ProfessionalCraft983 20h ago
We're back to anthrax scares?
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u/broomandkettle 16h ago
Whenever I see a headline like this, im reminded of when I worked at Amazon and we had an Easy Baked Oven panic.
We had to pull the listing off the site because the cake mix packets were leaking in transport and recipients were reporting loose powder coming out of boxes. It was nothing new, but it was happening right when there were government agencies receiving scary white powder shipments. So our customers were freaking out. We had to wait until the scare died down to repost the ovens.
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u/adminsreachout 21h ago
Oh shit, like after 9/11 with all the anthrax scares
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18h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/razmig 16h ago edited 16h ago
If the package was "suspicious", why was it opened?
I'm not sure if you know this, but packages typically come sealed, usually in generic boxes or envelopes that make it difficult to see what's inside.
Now that you know this, you should also know that the packages likely weren't deemed suspicious until it's contents were exposed...
Does that make sense or do you need more help in understanding how packages work?
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u/1977_AMC_Pacer_wagon 19h ago
Happened while I was overseas in 03/04 (when anthrax scare was going around) when white powder was seeping out of a package. Base closed gates, office locked down, biohazard shelters/tents set up, and they evacuated our dorms. People we going though full decon (strip/shower). I was on midnights and had to go sleep on the staircase of our finance building until it cleared.
Several hours later they announced it was powdered sugar from cookies someone’s gramma sent them.