Positive Anthrax Test Closes World Bank Building in D.C.

self | Monday, May 20, 2002 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

A friend of mine who works at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. just informed me that "Building J" was closed today and workers sent home after the loading dock tested positive for anthrax.

A second test was inconclusive, so workers were sent home and will not return to the building for at least a few days. The air conditioning in the building has been turned off to avoid spreading any possible anthrax spores.

It is not known when it will be determined whether or not anthrax is actually present at Building J. If I get any updates I'll post them here.

[kristinn]

I'm hoping it's a false positive and the workers at the World Bank can get back to squandering our money soon :-)

[Bigg Red]

Scary. Prayers for those workers.

[still lurking]

Since there have been so many false positives lately, does this mean they are testing on a much larger scale?

[Joe Hadenuf]

As our doors, gates, windows and borders to our country, remain wide open.

[kcvl]

bttt

[blam]

"As our doors, gates, windows and borders to our country, remain wide open."

America belongs to the world, right? (how selfish of you to think you can keep it to yourself) <>

[blau993]

Is Building J the headquarters building on 18th Street?

[kristinn]

I'm not sure. When I asked my friend detailed questions he said the workers weren't supposed to talk about it, so he wouldn't say more than what I wrote about.

[kristinn]

I believe it is. My friend said Building J was on 18th Street, NW.

[blam]

Next thing you'll hear. "Why do the earlier immigrants have more say than those who have not yet arrived "

[My Favorite Headache]

Seems like your Cipro story from about 6 months ago is so fresh in the mind all of a sudden.

[still lurking]

I was wondering if all such targets get a test regularly.

[archy]

Not the only recent DC-area closing, including this one at a related federal office building.

Sounds like the feds are trying to keep it real quiet this time around....

-archy-/-

[Gore_ War_ Vet]

One can only hope that the IMF & UN don't get shutdown too!

[Betty Jo]

Beware the Bin Laden Medical Matrix!

[kristinn]

I ended up not taking the full 60-day course of Cipro, thank God. The government kept changing the regimen so I decided not to be a guinea pig being that my exposure risk was relatively low. It turned out okay.

[gwynapnudd]

I'm just terrified that the IMF, the World Bank, the IRS, and the U.N. will get hit. Let us pray!

[Grut]

It's just idle speculation, of course, but what if terrorists had infiltrated wherever it is they make anthrax testing kits...?

[archy]

The UN HQ building is in New York, of course, but surely they have some associated offices or annexes in the District of Columbia as well- though they might well keep any exposure or positive tests, or maybe even related deaths, secret if they so chose.

-archy-/-