Monday, March 30, 2015

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,





The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,

October 10, 2001, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Antibiotics: U.S. supply would treat 2 million for anthrax,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the nation's stockpile of pharmaceuticals holds enough antibiotics to treat 2 millions of people in the event of any widespread outbreak of anthrax. The size of the National Pharmaceutical...

"Historically, penicillin was the preferred drug for the treatment of anthrax, but there have been reports that the Russians, and perhaps others, had developed strains of anthrax that are resistant to almost every drug except Cipro,"

October 31, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Daschle letter spores enough to infect 2 million, Archived,


November 11, 1998, The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution, Abortion foe reports anthrax threat, by Diana Lore,

February 4, 1999, The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution, Two Packages Purporting To Contain Anthrax Cause Disruptions, by E.N. Smith,

February 23, 1999, The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution, Anthrax scare empties offices hit by '97 bomb, by Brad Morlin,

October 7, 2001, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, New ways to ID suspects in public show mixed results, Archived,

October 9, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The CDC: Race is on to prepare for bioterror, by M.A.J. McKenna, Archived,

October 10, 2001, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Antibiotics: U.S. supply would treat 2 million for anthrax,

October 11, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia Tech at forefront of detection: Biochemical devices may assist rescuers, by Jane O. Hansen, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 13, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Scramble to calm public during the scare, Anthrax again -- and fear of more, by Scott Shepard, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 13, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Physicians fear panic over anthrax reports, Physicians fear panic over anthrax reports, scares, by Patricia Guthrie and M.A.J. McKenna, Staff Writers, Archived,

October 15, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Some find pleasure in others' fear, by Bill Hendrick, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 15, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3 more were exposed at NBC; Editor's wife in Fla. rented to 2 hijackers, by Mary Lou Pickel, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 16, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Post office forms a security task force, Be vigilant about mail, Postal Service advises; Task force will examine letter, package security, by Bob Dart, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 16, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, White, powdery substances spur global phobia, by Craig Schneider and Marlon Manuel, Staff Writers, Archived,

October 16, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Traces of anthrax found in Florida post office, Anthrax traces found in post office near tabloid, by Mary Lou Pickel, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 18, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CBS News employee in Dan Rather's office contracts anthrax, Associated Press, Archived,

October 18, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CDC warns doctors to look for smallpox, food poisoning, deadly viruses, by Reagan Walker, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 18, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, U.S. House closed through Monday,
Anthrax sweep shutters House, by Shelley Emling and Chuck Lindell, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Washington Bureau, Archived,

October 19, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tabloid: "This paper not printed in state of Florida.", or, Enquirer's 'world exclusive' is about itself, Associated Press, Archived,

October 19, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax cases increasing, but danger still very slight, by Bob Dart and Mike Toner, Staff Writers, Archived,

October 19, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Are mailings a domestic plot?, Experts doubt anthrax a domestic plot, by Ron Martz, Staff Writer, Archived, diigo,

October 20, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax found in House postal facility, by Scott Shepard, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 20, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax anxiety makes Cipro the star treatment,

October 23, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CDC: Germ hunters' Atlanta home base is leader in global anthrax fight, by Charles Seabrook, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 23, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, No anthrax found in Atlanta letter sent to Kenya; FBI says harmless fungus or mildew prompted concern, by Jane Hansen, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 23, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CDC presented with new challenges; CDC: Germ hunters' Atlanta home base is leader in global anthrax fight, by Charles Seabrook, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 24, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Popup images of letters; Anthrax-tainted letters dated Sept. 11, Associated Press, Archived,

October 25, 2001, Washington Post - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Experts theorize on letter senders, Analysts disagree on who wrote letters, by Peter Slevin, The Washington Post, Archived,

October 25, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Taking stock of a deadly disease, its risks, potency, treatments: Questions about anthrax, plus a glossary of terms, Archived,

October 26, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sam Nunn: Public needs to be better informed, or, Criticism of public health escalates; Communication gaps called 'huge', by Melanie Eversley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writers, Archived,

October 26, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Nations control of bioweapons is lax, by Charles Seabrook, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 26, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax scares spurring direct mail changes, by Maurice Tamman, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 28, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CDC priorities, staff rearranged to meet anthrax threat, or, CDC feels new urgency, by M.A.J. McKenna, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 28, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax has long been a formidable foe, or, We still have much to learn about anthrax; Disease a hardy enemy that's been around a long time, by Mike Toner, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 28, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CDC urges vaccine for lab workers, Hundreds of lab workers may get anthrax vaccine, by Nick Tate, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 29, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, EPA to pump poison gas into Senate building to kill anthrax; reopening expected in 2 weeks, Associated Press, Archived,

October 29, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, With benefits come risk of tendon harm, heart arrhythmias, or, Cipro side effects spur concern, by Mike Toner and Jane O. Hansen, Staff Writers, Archived,

October 29, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 14th anthrax case confirmed; Search continues for mail, offices tainted by anthrax; eighth inhalation case confirmed, Associated Press, Archived,

October 29, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, South Fulton mail center evacuated after powder found; South Fulton mail center to reopen today, by Charles Yoo, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 30, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, New anthrax cases in N.J., N.Y. probed. Archived,

October 30, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, FBI probing anthrax threats to abortion clinics in 17 states, by Maurice Tamman and Ron Martz, Staff Writers, Archived,

October 30, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Lather Up; Hand washing a good first line of defense, by Gracie Bonds Staples, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 31, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Health czars discuss vaccines, flu season and the anthrax investigation, or Some anthrax vaccine sought for civilians, by Jane O. Hansen, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 31, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Full text of the AJC's conversation with HHS Secretary Thompson and CDC Director Koplan, Archived,

October 31, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 61-year-old hospital worker dies of anthrax, Archived,

October 31, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, NY hospital worker dies of inhalation anthrax; another may have skin anthrax, Archived,

October 31, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Daschle letter spores enough to infect 2 million, Archived,

October 31, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Two new anthrax cases pose questions about sources; private mail, by Chuck Lindell, Staff Writer, Archived,

October 31, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Postmaster defends response to letter, [Dead Link]

October 31, 2001, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Some anthrax vaccine sought for civilians

November 1, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cleland: Give CDC lead role, by Melanie Eversley, Staff Writer, Archived,

November 1, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Experts face trial, error on anthrax, For scientists, the microbe has proven to be a wily foe, by Nick Tate, Staff Writer, Archived,

November 2, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Smallpox vaccine produced on a fast track, or, Smallpox vaccine now on a fast track, by Mike Toner, Staff Writer, Archived,

November 5, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Zapping the mail, Backgrounder: Electron beams a defense against anthrax, or, Backgrounder: Irradiation; U.S. moving to zap any anthrax in mail, by Mike Toner and Bob Keefe, Staff Writer, Archived,

November 5, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax found in Midwest postal facilities, Archived,

November 5, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax found in Pentagon post office; traces on NBC package sent to N.Y. mayor's office, Archived,

November 11, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, More Anthrax Traces Found on Capitol, by David Ho, Associated Press Writer, Archived,

November 11, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax vaccine mired in red tape; It's quarantined, but maker says it's safe and effective, by Mike Toner, Staff Writer, Archived,

November 11, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, As challenges to the CDC grow, director makes sure agency stands tall, by M.A.J. McKenna, Staff Writer, Archived,

November 11, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, War On Terrorism: Two Months Later; Bioterrorism; Anthrax cases still a mystery; No news not always good news, by Charles Seabrook, Staff Writer, Archived,

November 16, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CDC bioterror response 'gaps' cited, by Jeff Nesmith, Staff Writer, Archived,

November 19, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Leahy letter contained more than two lethal doses, or, Leahy letter contained lethal amounts of anthrax, Archived,

November 20, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CDC chief: Anthrax senders probably didn't know postal workers would be infected, Archived, The Associated Press

November 22, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Connecticut woman dies after being mysteriously contaminated, or, Connecticut woman, 94, dies of inhalation anthrax, Archived,

November 23, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Major Developments in Anthrax Cases, Archived,

November 23, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tests find no evidence of anthrax in woman's mail, mailbox, post office, Associated Press, Archived,

November 25, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax Victim Mourned in Conn., by Diane Scarponi, Associated Press Writer, Archived,

November 25, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, An Upside For the CDC; Anthrax scare likely to bring long-awaited funding to agency, by M.A.J. McKenna, Staff Writer, Archived,

November 27, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CDC outlines its smallpox response plan; Single case would be an international emergency, by M.A.J. McKenna, Staff Writer, Archived,

December 4, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Thousands of letters may contain anthrax, Associated Press, Archived,

December 9, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax experts compare notes; CDC has to sort out what it's learned, by M.A.J. McKenna, Staff Writer, Archived,

December 15, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Problems delay Senate anthrax sweep, Archived,

December 15, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Flu -- not anthrax -- biggest threat, state health officer says, by Jim Tharpe, Staff Writer, Archived,

December 16, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Government workers may get anthrax vaccine, by Eunice Moscoso, Staff Writer, Archived,

January 29, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, United States Stockpiles Drugs as Medical Arsenal Takes Anti-Terror Priority,

February 5, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bioterrorism Funding Boost Slights Atlanta-Based Health-Care Agency,

February 6, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Marketing and E-mail Start to Click,

February 7, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Disease Detectives on Alert at Olympic Games,

February 27, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Consumer Confidence Drops in February Despite Good Retail Sales,

February 22, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Head of Centers for Disease Control Steps Down,

February 23, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax scare at Fort McPherson; 7 treated for possible exposure after package found; Test results possible Saturday, by Ron Martz, Staff Writer,

March 15, 2002, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Recession Effects to Linger in Georgia Bankruptcies,

March 19, 2002, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, page A6, '95 attack sparked fear but few changes in Japan, by Julie Chao,

April 4, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Philanthropist Pledges $3.9 Million to Agency's Anti-Bioterror Efforts,

April 7, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jammed Emergency Rooms Can't Battle Biowar, Study Says,

April 23, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Farms Raise Germs' Resistance with Antibiotics,

May 10, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Wall Street Column,

May 14, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, U.S. Medical Centers Recruit Civilian Volunteers for Anthrax Vaccine Trial,

May 19, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Designer Crops Are Abundant on Grocery Shelves,

June 23, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Red Ink Flows Freely at Post Office.

July 3, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Infectious Disease Expert to Lead Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga.

July 20, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Residents Aspire to Be Featured on 'Real Folks' Trading Cards,

August 8, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Security Summit to Take Place in Atlanta,

September 10, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Firms Try to Find Right Balance in Making Security Changes,

September 19, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Publix to Offer Irradiated Meat,

October 10, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Hospitals Use Sept. 11 Lessons to Plan for Terror Attacks,

October 18, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Report Chides U.S. on Anthrax Preparations,

October 30, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Workers Neglected Drugs to Protect against Anthrax, Study Finds,

January 25, 2003, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Senate Funds CDC Facilities Upgrade,

March 19, 2003, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta-Area Doctors, Hospitals on Lookout for New Respiratory Disease Cases,

May 11, 2003, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Unusual coalition of left and right says civil liberties under attack,

August 13, 2003, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Terror Experts in Atlanta Take on Anthrax Cleanup at Former Home of Tabloids,

September 5, 2003, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Emory University Gets Slice of Bioterror Funds,

September 21, 2003, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Jay Bookman Column,

September 22, 2003, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Up Close Column,

September 23, 2003, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Biotech Executive's SEC Case Cloaked in Mystery,

September 26, 2003, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Subpoena plan stirs alarm,

October 1, 2003, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CDC Plans Snazzy New Visitors Center,

October 31, 2003, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CDC Tightens Oversight of Research Labs,

November 1, 2003, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, U.S. Mail to Fly on Best-Performing Airlines,

December 17, 2003, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Former Senator Criticizes Administration for Considering New Nuclear Weapons,

February 6, 2004, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Ricin Scare Hikes Trading Volume of Stock in Marietta, Ga., Firm,

May 27, 2004, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Would Gain Bioterrorism Funds under Proposal.

November 5, 2004, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax vaccine stockpile ordered.

February 6, 2005, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CDC cuts could hurt bioterror effort.

March 16, 2005, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Wall Street column.

July 28, 2005, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bioterrorism drill to take place.

October 28, 2005, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jury convicts head of Norcross, Ga., firm of securities fraud, perjury.

March 20, 2006, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, America's disease sentinels overtaxed.

September 21, 2006, Columbia Journalism Review, The AJC Takes the CDC's Temperature,

June 20, 2014, The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution, CDC workers potentially exposed to anthrax,

June 20, 2014, The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution, CDC workers treated after anthrax scare,

July 14, 2014, The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution, Second probe details more CDC anthrax lab problems,

July 16, 2014, The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution, CDC chief vows to change 'culture' after anthrax, flu incidents, by Daniel Malloy, Staff Writer,

March 20, 2015, The Atlanta Journal‑Constitution, Internal report slams CDC lab safety,







FBI questions expert on source of anthrax, [dead link]

FBI hopes Leahy letter yields key evidence, [dead link]

FBI pins hopes on Leahy letter, [dead link]

Anthrax is found on Connecticut letter, [dead link]

Senate begins final anthrax cleanup, [dead link]

Feds probe abortion fugitive in anthrax hoaxes. [dead link]

Anthrax letter to Leahy had potential to kill 100,000, he says. [dead link]

"Emergency powers" law is being drafted at the request of the CDC and is slated to be made public Tuesday, [dead link]

November 7, 2001, Police use anthrax victim's subway card to trace her steps in search for bacteria source, [dead link]

Feds Probe Conn. Anthrax Death, [dead link]

Letter to Senator Full of Anthrax, [dead link]

Four New Jersey Post Offices Reopen, [dead link]

Bioterrorism




CDC Anthrax Scare Blamed on Breach of Protocol

www.sciencespacerobots.com/cdc-anthrax-scare-blamed-on-breach-of-pr...

Jun 21, 2014


April 15, 2004, ACLU, Conservative Voices Against PATRIOT Act II,

September 21, 2006, Columbia Journalism Review, The AJC Takes the CDC's Temperature,

Anthrax update

Updates on the newest in the anthrax outbreak.

November 21, 2001,
https://web.archive.org/web/20011121125536/http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/anthrax_resources.html

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Photo illustration

Anthrax: Latest developments
• The Senate proposed a plan to spend $3 billion to combat bioterrorism. The Bush administration says it supports the concept but is balking at the Senate bill's cost. The administration had proposed $1.5 billion as part of its larger $40 billion emergency measure.
• In Boca Raton, Fla., where the anthrax attack first hit, testing found anthrax in more than 30 spots inside the American Media building. Health officials suggested there must have been more than one tainted letter sent to the tabloid publisher, although none has been found.
• Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said Thursday he hoped negotiations to buy some 250 million doses of smallpox vaccine would be finished by next week.
• Federal securities regulators on Thursday ordered three companies to stop making allegedly fraudulent claims that they had technologies to fight anthrax and bioterrorism.

November 23, 2001,
https://web.archive.org/web/20011123022943/http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/anthrax_resources.html

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Photo illustration

Anthrax: Latest developments
• A 94-year-old Connecticut woman with inhalation anthrax died Wednesday. Officials have no idea how Ottilie Lundgren contracted the disease. The F-B-I and the C-D-C are investigating.
• More evidence of anthrax spores spreading from the contaminated central postal facility that serves the nation's capital. Education Department officials report that small amounts of anthrax were found in the agency's mail room.
• Ten truckloads of held-up mail will soon be headed to its recipients. The mail had been locked inside a Trenton, New Jersey-area plant after anthrax was found there. It's been irradiated.
• Nationwide deaths due to inhalation anthrax: 5
• Others diagnosed with inhalation anthrax: 11
• Number diagnosed with skin anthrax: 7




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November 19, 2001, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Leahy letter contained more than two lethal doses, or, Leahy letter contained lethal amounts of anthrax, Archived,

Washington -- A sample taken from a plastic evidence bag containing a still-unopened letter to Sen. Patrick Leahy contains at 23,000 anthrax spores, enough for more than two lethal doses, a federal law enforcement official said Tuesday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there were three times more anthrax spores in the single sample taken from the plastic bag than in any of the other 600 bags of mail examined by the FBI before it found the Leahy letter.

Word of the anthrax spores, first reported by The New York Times, followed the FBI's announcement that it is convinced the Leahy letter was sent by the same person who mailed an anthrax-tainted letter to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.

Investigators are looking into the possibility the Leahy letter was misrouted initially, resulting in anthrax contamination at a State Department mail facility that sickened one worker.

In Atlanta, meanwhile, Tom Skinner, spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday that the agency planned to test a substance found in a letter that the Chilean government said was tainted with anthrax. The government of Chile said the letter was from an American company in Switzerland to a company in downtown Santiago. It declined to identify either company.

The Leahy letter found Friday will be mined for information based on a plan by the FBI, the Army and outside science experts who want to maximize the evidentiary value of the document, the FBI said Monday.

"FBI and Centers for Disease Control investigators hope that this careful, scientifically agreed upon approach will yield clues that will help identify the source," the bureau said in a statement.

It is more important to proceed with care than with haste, in view of the possibility that the letter could contain "a wealth of other evidence" such as fingerprints, ink and handwriting, a government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Monday night.

The Leahy letter, postmarked Oct. 9 in Trenton, N.J., was found by the FBI and hazardous materials personnel from the Environmental Protection Agency in one of 280 barrels of unopened mail sent to Capitol Hill and held since the discovery last month of the letter to Daschle. The Daschle letter also was postmarked Oct. 9 in Trenton.

The outside of the Leahy letter appears virtually identical to the Daschle letter and bears the same fictitious "Greendale School" return address, all-capital block letters and other characteristics.

The matching characteristics of the Leahy and Daschle letters "have combined to convince investigators" that both were "sent by the same person," the FBI said.

U.S. postal inspector Dan Mihalko said the Leahy letter contains a handwritten ZIP code of 20510 that may have been read as 20520 by optical character reader machines at the postal service.

"That's the exact change needed to forward something to the State Department," Mihalko said.

"It raises an interesting possibility that the letter to Leahy could have been misdirected through the State Department mail system initially, which might explain how that system got contaminated," he added.

A 59-year-old employee of the State Department's mail facility in Sterling, Va., was hospitalized Oct. 25 after lab tests confirmed he had inhalation anthrax. He recovered.

On Capitol Hill, the Dirksen and Russell Senate Office buildings reopened Monday after being swept for anthrax contamination after the discovery of the Leahy letter. The Hart Senate Office Building remained closed.

EPA officials have said it will take three to four weeks to decontaminate the offices of 10 senators in the Hart building in which traces of anthrax have been found, a Senate aide speaking on condition of anonymity said. Those cleanups have not yet started.

Two other offices where bacteria were found -- Daschle's and the next-door suite of Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis. -- will be sealed and cleaned with chlorine dioxide gas.

Officials originally hoped Hart, which houses half the Senate's 100 members, would be cleaned and reopened by Nov. 21. With the new cleanup timetable, authorities have set no new target date, but many aides believe the building may not reopen until next year.

The FBI said all congressional mail set aside after discovery of the Daschle letter had been inspected, and the Leahy letter was the only suspicious piece.

Four people have died from anthrax: two Washington postal workers, a hospital employee in New York City and a newspaper photo editor in Florida.
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November 20, 2001, AP - Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CDC chief: Anthrax senders probably didn't know postal workers would be infectedArchived, The Associated Press

ATLANTA -- Whoever sent anthrax-laced letters by mail likely didn't realize postal workers would be infected instead of their prominent targets, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.

"The person or persons who did this were probably not expecting the intermediaries in the route to become victims," Dr. Jeffrey Koplan said. "It just adds to the tragedy."

He was referring to tainted letters sent to NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw and to Sens. Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy. Six postal workers have contracted inhalation anthrax, two fatally, and an aide to Brokaw contracted the skin form of the disease.

The CDC director was asked about the anthrax letters at a bioterrorism forum called by Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga.

Koplan noted that the Daschle letter was reinforced with cellophane tape around the edges -- possibly to make the envelope look safe, or to ensure that opening it would require agitation.

"Whoever did this, we have to imagine they are smart, talented and have technical skills," Koplan said.
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February 23, 2002, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Anthrax scare at Fort McPherson; 7 treated for possible exposure after package found; Test results possible Saturday, by Ron Martz, Staff Writer,

Military and law enforcement officials hope to learn by noon today whether a suspicious substance found Friday evening at Fort McPherson in southwest Atlanta is anthrax.

An initial field test of the powdery white material late Friday was positive for the deadly organism, according to Joe Handley, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Reserve Command headquarters at Fort McPherson.

If confirmed, it would be the first positive anthrax discovery since Nov. 21, when a Connecticut woman died after being exposed to the bacterium.

"We are going to treat it as if anthrax is present," said Llelwyn Grant, a spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Lisa Swenarski, a CDC spokeswoman, said the substance was taken to the agency's Atlanta labs for testing late Friday.

Tests were to run through the night and the results given to the Department of Defense and the Fulton County Health Department, according to Swenarski.

Grant said the specimens were packed in a bio-safety kit for transport to the CDC.

Col. Guy Shields, chief of public affairs for Forces Command, which also is housed at the base, said that although the early tests for anthrax were positive, "preliminary field testing is not that accurate. It errs on the side of caution."

Col. Dan Stoneking, a Pentagon spokesman, said the substance was discovered around 5:15 p.m.

The powder was inside a package that "apparently was delivered through the front door" of the Army Reserve Command headquarters, said Bob Bolia, a spokesman for Fort McPherson. Bolia said he did not know who delivered the package or to whom it was addressed.

"We don't know how it got in there or what it is," Shields said.

Shields said the package was found on the floor on the building's fourth floor, which contains the mail room. When the package was opened, it was found to contain a plastic sandwich-type bag with the suspicious powder, according to Handley.

Shields said seven people, all civilians, came in contact with the suspicious package. Five are employed at Fort McPherson and the other two were first responders with the base fire department.

They were decontaminated with showers in a tent-like structure in front of the building. They were allowed to go home around 9 p.m. but will be called back for treatment if the powder is found to be anthrax, Shields said.

"I've been told they're fine," he said.

Shields said he did not think others came in contact with the powder.

The military has tightened its mail screening procedures since last fall, when five people died after letters containing anthrax were mailed to media outlets and government offices in Florida, New York and Washington.

It was not known late Friday whether the delivery and acceptance of the suspicious package at Fort McPherson was in keeping with current handling procedures.

The building has a secure entry point, Shields said. Names of personnel allowed inside are kept on a roster and visitors must be accompanied by an escort to enter the building.

The building where the package was found has been secured, but the base has not been locked down, Shields said. However, workers who are not considered essential have been turned away.

Rapid response teams from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency were sent to the post. The teams specialize in dealing with weapons of mass destruction.

The FBI also was at the base.

A portion of the base was cordoned off by military police and about 200 of the nearly 1,000 civilian and military personnel who work in the Reserve Command building, one of the newest and largest on the base, were locked in until about 9 p.m.

They were allowed to leave, but if test results come back positive, they may be asked to return to the base for decontamination and treatment.

Handley said most of the military personnel in the building have been inoculated with the anthrax vaccine, but not the civilians. One person who was forced to wait said the anthrax scare put a damper on a retirement party for an Immigration and Naturalization Service employee, which was planned inside the base.

"Half the people couldn't get in," said Jerry Patton.

Myrtle Merriwether was one of the cooks for the party.

"We all were ready to go," she said, when they heard news of the anthrax scare.

Mike Bahus, a civilian who works on the base, said he waited inside the commisary at the bowling alley until he could leave.

"They weren't scared so much, but they were concerned it was an anthrax thing," he said of people with whom he waited it out.

But Maj Doug Dunklin, in the Force Com Building, said it was "business as usual."

"The only thing I know is what I saw on TV," he said.

The Army Reserve Command manages about 1,700 reserve units throughout the United States to ensure they are ready for mobilization for war or a natural disaster.

Fort McPherson is headquarters of Forces Command, which oversees all Army ground forces in the continental United States, and Third U.S. Army, the ground component for U.S. Central Command, whose mission includes the war in Afghanistan.

Most of Third Army's headquarters staff has been in the Middle East since January.

Staff writers Kevin Duffy, Henry Farber, Don Plummer and Brendan Sager contributed to this report.
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