Box of "Bird Brain Matter" explodes at FedEx in Columbus, Ohio (contaminated with West Nile Virus)

WCMH TV | March 18, 2003 | NBC Channel 4

[Sunshine55]

The 11 o'clock news has just announced that a box containing "bird brain matter" being shipped thru FedEx has exploded at the FedEx terminal on Gateway Blvd., possibly contaminating several employees at the hub. Hazmat crews and the fire dept. are on the scene. Details are scarce, but I will post more as I locate details.

[JustSayNoNWO]

"Exploding bird brains

For a moment I thought the anti-war protestors had taken to suicide bombing."

First thing I thought too...I was hoping that "talk radio" maybe increased the decibels...and....BINGO.

[editto]

HAZMAT SITUATION AT FEDEX

WBNS-TV News

The discovery Tuesday night of a suspicious package at an east Columbus FedEx service center forced the evacuation of that facility. Authorities evacuated workers and set up a perimeter around the facility, keeping traffic away from the center.

The package in question was found in the FedEx Service Center at 2424 Citygate Drive near Port Columbus. Couriers and sorters left the facility, and were then moved further away by Columbus firefighters. FedEx dangerous goods specialists had already donned special material handling suits and isolated the package before firefighters and HAZMAT crews had arrived, along with the Columbus Bomb Squad.

Columbus Police revealed that the package, labeled "West Nile Virus," was being shipped from the Ohio Department of Health to the University of Texas. The shoebox-sized box contained brain matter of a bird that may have been infected with the virus.

The box apparently burst open in transit, leading to the evacuation. Workers who came in proximity to the package will be monitored for any potential West Nile infection. Dry ice may have been responsible for causing the package to burst open.

[editto]

Link for above story: HAZMAT Situation at FedEx

[A_perfect_lady]

Now I ask you, what could possibly cause bird brains to become explosive?

A university education will usually do it.

[Sunshine55]

Thank you! I have been trying to navigate between WCMH, WSYX, and WBNS with dialup and it SUCKS.

[CheneyChick]

Looks like it is an FedEx Express station. They do handle hazmat there.

[mass55th]

"Box of "Bird Brain Matter"

Just another name for the gray and white matter in a Democrat's cranium.

[JavaJumpy]

rofl, thanks for the laugh at the end of a long day!

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Just damn.

I *know* you use the phrase; I really, really do.

But this time it struck me as quite funny- I laughed, and now must deal with the Pepsi which is now sprayed all over my monitor.

Just Damn.

[ohiobushman]

When I heard "BIRD BRAINS" I thought of michael moore! Oh well,maybe next time.

[Tex-Con-Man]

Was anybody playing Slim Whitman on the radio?

[Rollee]

Was the DNC passing through at that time?

[Busywhiskers]

LOL Good point.

[Myrddin]

I've grown Clostridium perfringens in a "stab culture" in a lab incubator. A "stab culture" pushes the inoculation into a chunk of meat where it is sealed off from oxygen. If you "cork" the test tube, it can generate enough pressue to blow the cork. I seriously doubt it would generate enough pressure to qualify as an "explosion". Clostridium perfringens causes "gas gangrene".

[snippy_about_it]

FedEx here in Columbus is Air.

[editto]

Update...

A small explosion on a Federal Express facility forced an evacuation after ten o'clock Tuesday night. And there was concern that it could have been terrorist related. Fortunately it was not a terrorist threat.

Workers discovered a suspicious package at the northeast Columbus FedEx service center. Evacuated workers called 10TV about the situation. The station then contacted Columbus Police to inquire about the incident, but police and other emergency services had not been contacted.

The caller told 10TV that a box had exploded. And there was another cause for concern. The package was labled as having the West Nile virus in it.

Couriers and sorters left the facility, and were then moved further away by Columbus firefighters. FedEx dangerous goods specialists had already donned special material handling suits and isolated the package before firefighters and HAZMAT crews had arrived, along with the Columbus Bomb Squad.

It was a package from the Ohio Health Department. The shoebox-sized box contained brain matter of a bird that may have been infected with the virus. They were shipping it to the University of Texas when it came apart. Jay Carrie of the Ohio Department of Health tells 10TV it was encased in normal packaging material.

"It was a dead virus so there was really no risk to any of the employees that were in the vacinity."

But no one was going to take any chances during this time of increasing tension.

"I think everyone's anxiety level is kind of high. The responce by Columbus fire is something you would expect in situation like this," said Columbus police Sergeant Brent Mull.

Workers who came in proximity to the package will be monitored for any potential West Nile infection. Dry ice may have been responsible for causing the package to burst open.

COTA buses were brought to the scene late Tuesday night to provide shelter for the 50 or so evacuated workers being detained at the scene.

[Sunshine55]

editto, you rock :) I was starting to think everyone thought I was the bird-brain :)

[JavaJumpy]

bumping for a chuckle