A suspicious package found in the the McIntire School of Commerce put the University's emergency response procedures into action last night.
The scare caused University Police to close a section of Monroe Hall, where the Commerce School is located, for a brief period around 6 p.m.
Units from the Charlottesville Rescue Squad and the Fire Department also responded to the call, which turned out to be a false alarm.
"It was just a suspicious package," University Police Sgt. Thomas Durrer said.
The police were called after a woman opened an envelope that allegedly contained an unknown substance, Durrer said.
Officials deemed the building safe at approximately 6:30 p.m. and began readmitting people into the building. That there was no apparent threat did not stop police from taking precautionary measures, including wearing facemasks and removing the suspicious envelope in a sealed bag.
"The person that was involved opted to go to the emergency room" for treatment of a rash, Fire Department Battalion Chief Britt Grimm said.
Grimm added that the Charlottesville Fire Department has responded to a number of "routine emergencies" related to suspicious substances since anthrax, a deadly bacteria, first appeared in Boca Raton, Fla., several weeks ago.
"The fire department is responsible for hazardous materials," he said. "All of our people are trained to respond."
Nationwide tensions about the spread of anthrax has intensified since U.S. officials issued a new security alert on Monday to warn against possible upcoming terrorist attacks.
Currently 16 Americans have contracted anthrax either through inhalation or skin contact with letters laced with spores of the substance.
Grimm encouraged Charlottesville residents to use their heads when encountering unknown substances. "A lot of stuff is common, everyday stuff."
The fire department, however, "would rather have people call if they're not sure of something," he said.
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