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Parents with children who may have touched needles found in three red boxes in the driveway of a former Silver Spring veterinary clinic should contact their family doctor because of a risk of tetanus, according to Montgomery County health officials.

The boxes were found Tuesday at 8337 Grubb Road in Silver Spring, the site of a former veterinary clinic that has been closed for about a year, said Cindy Edwards, a nurse administrator for the Montgomery Count Disease Control Program. The property, which is now for sale, is on the border of Silver Spring and Chevy Chase across the street from Rock Creek Forest Elementary School.

Officials from the county Department of Health and Human Services responded to a call from a resident who had passed by the boxes. While at the scene, HHS officials called Montgomery County Police, who then contacted Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Edwards said. Police will follow with an investigation into the boxes while fire and rescue officials disposed of the needles.

Edwards said the needles could have been in the driveway as early as two weeks ago, when real estate agents last checked on the property. Edwards believes no one currently lives on the property and the needles could have come from the veterinary clinic.

Because the clinic closed about a year ago, the needles' lengthy period of exposure makes them dangerous to anyone who may have come in contact with them, Edwards said.

Officials believe the health danger is minimal but there could be a danger of tetanus, a potentially fatal disease, according to a news release from HHS.

"These needles had been stored some place for over a year, which means the biggest concern is tetanus for being out in the air so long," Edwards said.

Parents of children who may have touched these needles are urged to contact their private physician to be sure the children's tetanus shots are up to date. Call the county Public Health Services at 240-777-1775.