COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A package labeled as containing the West Nile virus exploded at a Federal Express facility, and about 50 workers were evacuated.
Fire officials said dry ice used to preserve tissue samples containing dead virus may have caused the shoebox-sized package to burst late Tuesday at the FedEx office near Port Columbus International Airport.
The package contained brain and kidney tissue from a bird that had tested positive for the virus, said Jay Carey, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health. The department was sending the material to a researcher at the University of Texas
``It was a dead virus so there was really no risk to any of the employees in the vicinity,'' Carey said.
Workers were allowed back into the building after about four hours.
``I think everyone's anxiety level is kind of high,'' said police Sgt. Brent Mull.
Fire officials said dry ice used to preserve tissue samples containing dead virus may have caused the shoebox-sized package to burst late Tuesday at the FedEx office near Port Columbus International Airport.
The package contained brain and kidney tissue from a bird that had tested positive for the virus, said Jay Carey, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health. The department was sending the material to a researcher at the University of Texas
``It was a dead virus so there was really no risk to any of the employees in the vicinity,'' Carey said.
Workers were allowed back into the building after about four hours.
``I think everyone's anxiety level is kind of high,'' said police Sgt. Brent Mull.