“We have made rubber gloves available to our employees in the central mail sorting facility strictly as a precautionary measure,” Vautin said. “Some have opted to wear them.”

Unlike many mailrooms in New York City that have stopped accepting U.S. mail deliveries, the University is still receiving all mail and has no plans to restrict incoming packages at this point.

As the current situation developsnd more information becomes available about the anthrax threats, HUMS might reevaluate its policies, Vautin said.

Additionally, staffers of high-profile professors said they were watchful for suspicious mail, but in general they were comfortable with the precautions already being taken.

“It’s just business as usual here,” said an assistant to Frankfurter Professor of Law Alan M. Dershowitz yesterday.

“Right now, human vigilance is the watchword,” Vautin said.

University Health Services

In an attempt to calm fears about anthrax, University Health Services (UHS) published a letter from Director Dr. David S. Rosenthal ’59 on its website Sunday, explaining the University’s preparations. Rosenthal noted that “anthrax is not easily contracted and is not spread contagiously among humans,” but that UHS was prepared for anything.

“UHS maintains an appropriate stock of Cipro and other antibiotics used in the treatment of anthrax infection. We also cooperate with area hospital pharmacies to share drugs and vaccines, as needed,” he wrote.

However, Rosenthal and Presley Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics R. John Collier, who studies anthrax, cautioned that taking antibiotics without cause could also pose significant health risks.

“Unless there’s clear evidence you were exposed to anthrax, it doesn’t make sense to take antibiotics,” Collier said. “It’s best just to remain calm and vigilant.”

—Material from the Associated Press was used in the compilation of this article.

—Staff writer Garrett M. Graff can be reached at ggraff@fas.harvard.edu.