Posted on 10/17/2001 6:44:12 AM PDT by 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.''
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What an *SS!! The thought of this whiney, spineless Clymer as vice president during this crisis is enough to chill the blood. It could have happened. THANK GOD it didn't!!!
I know it sounds funny, but I'm serious as a hog on ice:
DON'T SNIFF YOUR MAIL!
No, they are taking it because they work in a maximum-risk location which now has one confirmed instance of multiple exposures. This is the same thing they did for the people in Boca and NBC. The feds are not prohibiting medication in cases of high risk or possible exposure. They are recommending against premedication (which is detrimental) and against any widespread stockpiling that would make an effective response to a massive attack impossible.
Remember that the terrorist's main goal in this psychological war is to turn us against each other and against our country, to dimish our ability to act. Don't let them do this tou you, and don't be a tool to facilitate this. Like it or not - by events not of our choosing - we are all combatants now.
If anyone thinks this anthrax stuff is just a scare...we have only begun with this crisis...I am afraid it will probably get a lot worse before it gets better.
Better be checking others on same HVAC system!
This stuff came out of some very good lab.
The response by our governement to these incidents have been pretty impressive thus far. They identify and begin treatment rapidly. No cause for panic, they are doing a good job.
Yes, it is. However, I do believe they should be taking every precaution. It isn't because I like everyone residing there! :) Seriously, if our government officials start dropping dead of Anthrax, don't you think the majority of the population will begin to panic? We need those guys to stay healthy in order to keep America calm.
If anyone thinks this anthrax stuff is just a scare...we have only begun with this crisis...I am afraid it will probably get a lot worse before it gets better.
Exactly, with a little DNA splicing, it could be a whole new ballgame!!!
But the fact is, there is an ample supply of antibiotics to fight any outbreak of Anthrax (which is unlikely, since it isn't contagious, and can only be gotten by direct exposure to spores).
200 people in Washington aren't going to deplete the supply of antibiotics.
Some of you people need to tone down your "paranoia amplifiers."
Well I hope the all go to disneyworld via commerical aircraft and frequent the malls...
Noooooo he said this..."is prowably unnessawary, but why not?''
I'd much rather have President Bush on my side than some piss-ant little coward like yourself.
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