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.''
For Education And Discussion Only. Not For Commercial Use.
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.
Oh, fantastic!
Memo to Saddam: Kiss your rear-end GOOD BYE.
And the BBC website is claiming that the Anthrax is 'weapons grade'.
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.
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 LeadersTM?
Wonderful.
I also hope that Senator Daschle will recognise and abandon the destructive Liberal policies that have brought our nation to this crisis.
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.
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
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.
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