Anthrax scare at Capitol

October 15, 2001 10:14 AM

Anthrax scare at Capitol Looks like package for Sen. Daschle may have tested positive for Anthrax
posted by Lanternjmk (11 comments total)

article: the workers immediately given a text for anthrax exposure

seems we've found the source of these letters :)
posted by danOstuporStar at 10:26 AM on October 15, 2001

It only tested positive in two field tests. They won’t be positive until the lab results are back.
posted by gleemax at 11:05 AM on October 15, 2001

Here at the University of Texas in Austin, they evacuated the entire Law School this morning when a secretary found "white powder" on her keyboard. After about three hours, they decided that the mysterious "powder" was flakes of dust off the ceiling tiles.
posted by ColdChef at 11:09 AM on October 15, 2001

Clearly the architect of this anthrax campaign is currently choosing "big" highly visible targets - news media, politicians, large corporations. Right now I would feel at risk if I were anyone slightly famous, but as an average citizen I do not feel as if I am in harm's way currently. The problem with snail mail terrorist campaigns is that the authorities could be dealing with several groups - a credible terrorist threat as well as copycats. which are just as dangerous, of course, but complicate matters. It will be a difficult investigation.

While anthrax is frightening, I find other diseases much more terrifying. The ebola virus has no cure and is just a horrifying death. Pneumonic plague is treatable with antiobiotics if caught in time. Both of these diseases have something in common - they are highly communicable. Anthrax is something I view as "poor man's bioterrorism." It does not spread from one person to another, and handling the substance is not nearly as difficult (or expensive) as handling pneumonic plague or ebola.
posted by xyzzy at 11:39 AM on October 15, 2001

Bush said ``there may be some possible link'' between Osama bin Laden

I wouldn't put it past him but we don't have any hard evidence,'' he said

is there any evidence (legit. question. i haven't been keeping up with the news on anthrax plague as, frankly, it bores me).
posted by tolkhan at 11:47 AM on October 15, 2001

Is this New Jersey's Response to "Dr Laura's" snub? The letter to Daschle was postmarked Sept. 18 from Trenton, New Jersey, said postal inspector Tony Esposito. A letter containing anthrax mailed to NBC anchor Tom Brokaw also was postmarked Trenton. Dr. Schlessinger made the remark during an Oct. 1 broadcast. When a listener asked what to do about terrorists' demands, she said, "You can try giving them New Jersey."
posted by Carol Anne at 11:53 AM on October 15, 2001

is there any evidence?

"Now that's scientific fact. There's no real evidence for it but it is scientific fact."
posted by holgate at 12:39 PM on October 15, 2001

The letter to Daschle was postmarked Sept. 18 from Trenton, N.J., said postal inspector Tony Esposito. A letter containing anthrax mailed to NBC anchor Tom Brokaw also was postmarked Trenton.

This may be a naive question, but why was a letter postmarked September 18 only now being opened?
posted by bjgeiger at 1:10 PM on October 15, 2001

Considering that congress gets thousands of pieces of mail daily, it isn't suprising that there would be a delay of this sort.
posted by Lanternjmk at 1:13 PM on October 15, 2001

Right now I would feel at risk if I were anyone slightly famous

I hope Kottke is ok.
posted by crunchland at 1:16 PM on October 15, 2001

If you want really scary biological weapons, you need look no further than the filovirus. It causes internal bleeding, is rapidly fatal, and there's no cure. Scary stuff.
posted by Theiform at 2:39 PM on October 15, 2001