By Alexander Dworkowitz
The largest mail facility in Queens was tested for anthrax last week, said a spokesman for the United States Postal Service.
The Queens Processing Center at 142-02 20th Ave. in Linden Hill underwent environmental tests for various bacteria, including anthrax, said Tom Gaynor, a communication program specialist for the USPS.
“The postal service as a precautionary measure is testing 200 plants throughout the United States,” said Gaynor.
The Queens Processing Center sorts every piece of mail in Queens, as well as the mail for New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Manhasset, Franklin Square and Port Washington in Nassau County.
The Queens test followed the discovery of anthrax on mail handling equipment at the Morgan General Mail facility in Manhattan on Oct. 25. Lawyers Tuesday for the postal service asked a federal judge to reject the legal effort of postal workers to temporarily close Morgan.
Gaynor said there were no signs of anthrax at the Queens Processing Center prior to the testing.
“No additional anthrax has been reported in New York outside the Morgan facility,” said Gaynor. “No other post office in New York has had evidence of anthrax.”
As of press time Tuesday, the results of the tests had not yet been reported.
Reach Reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300 Ext. 141.
