Anthrax Hits Daschle Staffers - first full story

AP | Wednesday, October 17, 2001

[JohnHuang2]

WASHINGTON (AP) - More than 20 people in Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's office have tested positive for exposure to anthrax, sources said Wednesday.

The tests were conducted after a letter sent to Daschle's office was found to contain a highly refined form of anthrax, suggesting it was produced by experts.

One official with direct knowledge of the test results said 22 Daschle staffers had tested positive for exposure to anthrax. All of them are taking the antibiotic Cipro. Another source said that more than 20 had tested positive. Both sources insisted on anonymity.

The FBI is investigating strong similarities in handwriting and style, including identical anti-American language, between the letter sent to Daschle in Washington and a letter with anthrax sent to NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw in New York.

Elsewhere in the country, four people are known to have contracted anthrax and nine others have tested positive for the bacteria.

Hundreds of people were tested Tuesday after the suspicious letter was opened in Daschle's office Monday. Nasal swabs were used on the staffers to see if there were any anthrax spores in their noses. A positive finding does not mean the person has the disease or will get the disease.

About 8,000 spores must be inhaled for a person to develop inhalation anthrax.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., said about 200 people on Capitol Hill are taking Cipro because of the anthrax scare, including himself.

Lieberman, who has not tested positive for anthrax exposure, said during a CNN interview on Wednesday that his taking the antibiotic ``is probably unnecessary, but why not?''

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said of the anthrax scare: ``There's no question that right now we are in a period of the unknown.''

For Education And Discussion Only. Not For Commercial Use.

[Diogenesis]

"There's no question that right now we are in a period of the unknown."

WRONG. It was unknown before 911.

It is now know, and because we know there should be no panic.

It should be dealt with appropriately and promptly, however.

[KellyAdmirer]

MSNBC says it is 22 staffers. That must have been sooooooome kinda potent anthrax strain.

[maquiladora]

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said of the anthrax scare: ``There's no question that right now we are in a period of the unknown.''

Oh, fantastic!

[ladtx]

As Barney Fife used to say, "We've got to nip it. Nip it in the bud."

[JohnHuang2]

It should be dealt with appropriately and promptly, however

Memo to Saddam: Kiss your rear-end GOOD BYE.

[maquiladora]

Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and at Ft. Dettrick, Md., described the spores to the FBI as "very high grade anthrax."

And the BBC website is claiming that the Anthrax is 'weapons grade'.

[wimpycat]

NIP IT! NIP IT! NIP IT! (in the bud)

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

There was also a Mena whistle blower who had an anthrax envelop and almost died back in the 90s. Russell Welch.

Clinton's Possible Anthrax Connection

[winodog]

Hmmm Lieberman and 200 others on capitol hill are taking cipro "because why not" but the ruling elite will not allow the people to get some in case they need it later. Doctors are being told not to prescribe it. They will soom IMHO take the war off and return home. I hate to speculate but sooner or later the american people are going to wake up and we will have to put some new people in office.The political elite that have been suckling up to the taxpayer tit for life need to be escorted out of D.C. forever.

[ikanakattara]

By now, hopefully everyone has figured out that this was NOT some wild soil anthrax picked up in rural OK or TX from sheep droppings. The trail of breadcrumbs leads right to a lab somewhere - and for some reason the government is NOT saying where.

[Lanman]

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., said about 200 people on Capitol Hill are taking Cipro because of the anthrax scare, including himself.

Lieberman, who has not tested positive for anthrax exposure, said during a CNN interview on Wednesday that his taking the antibiotic ``is probably unnecessary, but why not?''

Why not is because there is a limited supply.

[Cicero]

It's kind of ironic. If someone had asked which people would be most helpful to the Islamic extremists, because they would do what they could to undermine Bush and the war effort, it's exactly the people who have been attacked with anthrax: The chief leader and planner for the Democrats, and the liberal presstitutes. The only target they seem to have missed so far is Christiane Amanpour and CNN. I suppose even Bin Ladin is aware that they are among his best friends.

[wienerdog.com]

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., said about 200 people on Capitol Hill are taking Cipro because of the anthrax scare, including himself.

Lieberman, who has not tested positive for anthrax exposure, said during a CNN interview on Wednesday that his taking the antibiotic ``is probably unnecessary, but why not?''

Aren't these the same birds who are telling us not to take antibiotics because it's unnecessary and it will deplete the supply and it will destroy helpful bacteria and it will produce resistant strains? Or does that not apply to Our Fearless Leaders^TM?

[KellyAdmirer]

A friend of mine ordered Cipro - $160 for 30 tablets. When it arrived yesterday, there were exactly 14 tablets in the package. The company said that supplies had to be rationed because there was too much demand, but that more would be sent to her "if needed."

Wonderful.

[Savage Beast]

I am deeply concerned about those who have been exposed to anthrax, including Senator Daschle and his staff. I pray that everyone will recover, quickly and completely, and that the perpetrators of this attack will be brought to justice very soon.

I also hope that Senator Daschle will recognise and abandon the destructive Liberal policies that have brought our nation to this crisis.

[wimpycat]

Yeah, I heard it was Grade-A, primo stuff that was used on Daschle's office. It doesn't matter to me that I can't stand his politics, but I would personally administer 'justice' to whoever is responsible for this if I could. This is beyond politics--this is Americans being attacked because we're Americans.

[maquiladora]

UPDATE

From SkyNews.com :

US government sources said the anthrax powder sent to Tom Daschle's Capitol Hill office was weapons-grade, and thus almost certainly produced by experts.

Preliminary tests on the powder sent to Daschle indicated it had been refined for easy airborne dispersal. A source said it was a purified form, ideal for use as a chemical weapon.

It makes it likely that the powder was produced in a military laboratory.

[Snerdley]

About 8,000 spores must be inhaled for a person to develop inhalation anthrax.

How big is 8000 spores if each spore is between 1 and 5 microns (small enough to get deep into the lungs). How does that compare to a perfume/cologne squirt? I'm just trying to get a feel for how much stuff is about 8000 spores.

Is this something that can be inhaled in 1 breath? or does one need to be breathing spore air for several breaths?

-Snerdley

"Never start a fight, but by God, ALWAYS FINISH IT!"
-Captain John Sheridan
Earth Space Station Babylon 5

[The Duke]

Lieberman, who has not tested positive for anthrax exposure, said during a CNN interview on Wednesday that his taking the antibiotic ``is probably unnecessary, but why not?''

Lie-berman knows EXACTLY "why not". He's not just a human penis, he's a cowardly human penis. Were he a female he would be Madeline Albright. Were he a man he'd be Barney Frank. As it is he is an ameoba, fueled only by self interest.