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.

[homegroan]

Lieberman. The ball-less wonder. What a smuck.

[MissAmericanPie]

I noticed that right off. Does Liberman not know that taking cipro now may make the drug uneffective for him later if he contracts anthrax? At least that is what they tell us isn't it? And these mutts continue to line their pockets with Arab money, sell them influence, and refuse to begin deportations, or halt immigration.

[magoo_70115]

Don't bet on it.

[Eala]

Congress to adjourn until capital decontaminated

Oh, gosh! How do we keep it contaminated, then? (:-)

[Hoboken]

I think the term "tested positive for exposure" means that these staffers were given nasal swabs on which actual spore were found. I haven't read anything suggesting a blood test, wherein antibodies were found. At this time, we know that 22 staffers have inhaled anthrax spores. We'll know soon if any have inhaled enough to come down with the disease.

[cajungirl]

That is peculiar. Were they sitting there saying eeny meeny miny mo or were they saying "hey lets send daschl the good stuff and Brokaw the bad stuff",,weird. I can't explain that unless they were selecting targets to get the strong stuff or they didn't know they had two different kinds of bug.

[TKEman]

I wonder how much of this stuff they have. Hopefully not that much. I think the circumstantial evidence is that they don't have that much in any one place. It's probably one guy with a big can of it in an apartment somewhere. Whoever's doing it needs to stay somewhat mobile, in order to not get caught. Can't stay under the radar screen with barrels of this stuff.

[TKEman]

Couldn't agree with you more. I myself never take antobiotics unless I'm very sick. And I mean very sick.

[surfer]

Think about this...some of those people infected could have already been on CIPRO and the incubation time was about 24 hours...very potent stuff...they are saying the analysis is not back yet to determine the grade of the anthrax but take into account to assumptions - some people taking cipro as a precaution and a short infection time...would indicate to me a very potent batch!

[surfer]

It is reported that Iraq has over 30,000 gallons of the stuff...enough the kill the entire planet many time over!

[Savage Beast]

What's that old saying about a conservative is a liberal who's been anthraxed...or something like that?

[surfer]

They are saying infected with anthrax not exposed...HUGE DIFFERENCE and given a short exposure to infection period...probably pretty lethal.

In addition I wonder what other "tweaks" have been introduced...considering they are on a 100 year plan to take over the planet they could be introducing a sterilizing element to hinder our ability to reproduce.

[jwalsh07]

That report in the JAMA referred to botulism.

[GEC]

Better tell the Capitol maintenance staff to stock up on toilet paper.

After these antibiotics make their way through everyone's system, there are going to be many more people making many more visits to the little boys' and girls' room.

[jwalsh07]

They are saying infected with anthrax not exposed...HUGE DIFFERENCE and given a short exposure to infection period...probably pretty lethal.

That is NOT what they are saying at all. The Doctor in charge just stated on CSPAN that they have been EXPOSED, NOT infected and that treatment with antibiotics should be effective.

At this point in time, there have been only 4 people who have been INFECTED with anthrax despite the hundreds or perhaps thousands who have been exposed.

This should tell you that our government thus far is doing a pretty damn good job.

[surfer]

On FOX news she just said 50 people and then abruptly broke to commercial!

[dogbyte12]

CNN is confirming. Not 22... It is 29 exposures. This is some powerfully engineered stuff. 29 out of 40 people in an office get exposed when 1 envelope opens? Just consider the technique used to make this stuff fly and not clump together. This is Russian, or Iraqi made Anthrax. Period.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

None of the 20 or 22 people who tested positive who work for Mr. Daschle have come down with anthrax. THEY TESTED POSITIVE and are taking medication. They do not "Have Anthrax".

In my opinion these congresscritters should convene in some other location and get the danmed work done which needs to be done. They are useless.

[Savage Beast]

Oh I guess you're right. I get carried away... They oughta take it. But they do act like clowns a lot of the time.