CASE #3?: WOMAN SAID TO TEST POSTIVE FOR ANTHRAX EXPOSURE

NY Post via Drudge ^ | October 9, 2001 | KEITH KELLY and LARRY CELONA

[AlaninSA]

An anthrax scare gripped the nation yesterday as a third employee of a supermarket tabloid was said to be exposed - and the FBI probed frightening reports of an odd e-mail from a departing intern about "a little present" that he left behind.

[Gwaihir]

You're half right. The real question, I believe, is -would terrorists go to the trouble of smuggling the anthrax virus into the country to infect workers at the Enquirer or the Globe? Of course not. The idiot who did this was using the virus to settle a personal grudge with his employer. I suspect his commander had no knowledge of his personal actions.

Or not.

[Iwo Jima]

"Q: How would one go about exposing large numbers of people to anthrax spores? A: Mass mailing."

Quick! Send the FBI to the mailing room of Judicial Watch!

Can you imagine the widespread damage that could be done if anthrax were introduced into the JW fundraising letters and press releases? I get two or three of those a week!

[go_avs]

A - your work computer doesn't belong to you, it belongs to your employer, who can access it any time they like

B - your employer's IT department can provide all passwords without your knoweldge or consent (it's really not a good idea to store anything you don't want your employer to know about on your work computer)

C - the FBI's computer security experts could bypass password security if they need to by other means; they're just trying to save time here

D - they're trying to investigate an anthrax episode; in circumstances like this you need to trust your government a little

[ChemistCat]

It's my thought that the terrorists did not prepare this in a way that left spore particles fine enough to really penetrate the lungs. Thus they managed to sicken very few people. Perhaps they exposed hundreds and most did not get sufficient quantities of the spore to sicken them. Since this disease is not significantly contagious, we are in for a couple weeks of nervousness and then an end to these cases unless they are still working on the distribution problem. Umm, it might be wise if you're working in an office not to open mail too enthusiastically. WASH YOUR HANDS VERY CAREFULLY AND OFTEN!!!!!!!

We need to be thinking in terms of what a natural flu epidemic can do to this country at this point in time and act accordingly. Influenza experts have been predicting an especially dangerous flu season this year even without the events of 9/11. Tell your sick coworkers NOT TO COME TO WORK and keep sick kids at home. Our martyrish habit of going to work sick could literally endanger the lives of millions. FLU ISN'T JUST TWO WEEKS OF MISERY. IT HAS KILLED MORE PEOPLE IN HISTORY THAN ANY OTHER AIR BORNE DISEASE. And I have a feeling that dying of wild-strain flu is just as miserable of dying of terrorist-spread anthrax.

[francisandbeans]

A personal grudge? Are you kidding me? Anthrax is not something that can be conjured up by a few yokals with a dead calf...it requires knowledge of microbiology. It also requires some cash.

This falls right in line with the terrorist war techniques. They do not hit you where you think they will. That is why they are called terrorist. They instill terror.

[LeeMcCoy]

"It's my thought that the terrorists did not prepare this in a way that left spore particles fine enough to really penetrate the lungs. Thus they managed to sicken very few people."

I agree...but we had darned well take this as a warning, just like the first time the WTC was attacked, and get our antibiotic stockpiles beefed up, and a WORKABLE plan for treating our citizens quickly. Developing a safe and reliable vaccine wouldn't hurt either, although genetically manipulated strains might not be affected by the vaccine.

And you are quite right...flu pandemics have killed more people.

[MaeWest]

Do muslims also eat bagels or is that mainly a jewish thing?

Good question. Could this have been another attempt at irony by the terrorists?

[ChemistCat]

If we prepare the population to resist the spread of flu, it will help also if we're attacked deliberately with a contagious disease. Even genetically engineered viruses and bacteria cannot resist soap, nail brushes, and hot water! I'm serious about this. A bad flu epidemic right now can really hurt us, and we're ripe for a dangerous strain. No amount of airport security can stop someone from bringing a new flu bug into the country. Listen folks, if I do nothing else in my life that is of value I hope that I can at least make people listen to this: we do NOT need a bad flu season this year. It is BEHAVIOR that enables contagious diseases to spread. We have GOT to change our behavior this year as we face a dual threat!!!!! Post the warning everywhere. THIS YEAR we need to act as if an epidemic is already going on--because we may not have the medical infrastructure (thanks to HMOs) and economic strength to make it through the kind of flu seasons our great-grandparents faced! We're all of us immune-challenged by stress and chronic sleep deprivation (this is culture wide) and exposed to the germs people insist on taking into public. You know how some bigots are treating Arab/Muslims right now??? THAT is how we should treat anyone who goes to work or to the mall or to school SICK--put on the pressure, make them go HOME.

[homegroan]

Made me smile....thanx!

[cajungirl]

Everybody eats bagels fer crying out loud.

[harpseal]

I would like this gentleman enlighten me on how does Anthrax naturally show up inside a building like the one in Fla.

Perhaps a large flock of sheep wandered into the air conditioning ducts to die?

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[harpseal]

Call your local police. Anything without a return address must be suspect. That was the Unibomber's MO>

Let them open the envelopes the worst you have done is made an uneccessary call to the police department and if our worst fears are accurate then perhaps you have helped stop further terrorism.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[okie_tech]

What moron needs everyone's passwords to get to the information anyway?

[JasonC]

"go to the trouble of smuggling the anthrax virus into the country to infect workers at the Enquirer or the Globe"

The tabloids have the widest physical circulation of any newspapers in America. Wider than any magazine. They reach every supermarket. The primary problem with bio weapons is finding some way to distribute the poison. Haven't the tabloids solved that distribution problem?

The whole method of operation of 9-11 was using the powers of our own advanced systems, especially of transportation, against us. What better way would a terrorist have to spread poison than through e.g. newsprint, the physical ink?

Now, it is quite likely they did not know how to handle the stuff well. It is harder to get it to work up to the hype than the hype would have you believe. But did they know that? It is entirely plausible that they were trying to spread the stuff by means of our own developed distribution systems, but failed to get enough agent to anyone but the unlucky guy (or three, etc) in Florida.

[Texas Tea]

Everybody knows that computers harbor viruses...

Oh! Don't be silly! My computer isn't anywhere near water and is land locked. Just ask Andy Rooney!

[Silvertip]

Wonder what that college's biology program is like...

[LibertyGirl77]

Lorraine:

You could, and perhaps should do what a lady here in DC did the other day. She received a blank piece of mail from the United Arab Emirates and freaked out because she doesn't know anyone from that country. She took the letter, unopened, straight to the local firehouse and they opened it in hazmat gear. Last I heard it was some kind of brochure and it was being chem-and-bio-tested by the FBI.

If you aren't going to open it, then I suggest you take it to the authorities, because I don't think business envelopes are airtight. If there is anything nasty inside, you would be in trouble already. It's up to you...I will say a prayer for you and keep my firgers crossed that it is nothing.

[LibertyGirl77]

Nitpicky comment warning...

Anthrax is a bacterium, not a virus.