Deadly Form of Anthrax Found in DC Postal Worker
As new confirmed and suspected anthrax cases come to light in Washington, DC, investigators are concentrating on two postal facilities there. They are also looking for clues at several sites near Trenton, New Jersey. Our national correspondent Jon Frankel reports on the latest developments.
The postal facility in Trenton remains a criminal investigation site. The FBI and other investigators believe letters sent to NBC and Senator Daschle's office are connected. And were sent from somewhere near here.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post has identified the most seriously ill postal worker as Leroy Richmond.
In the crosshairs of the anthrax mailings, the messenger, a US postal worker has, again, been infected--this time with the more serious inhalation anthrax.
"The patient is listed in serious, but stable condition and is being treated aggressively with antibiotics," says Steve Brown, spokesperson, at Nova-Fairfax Hospital.
He works in the Brentwood postal facility in Washington, DC, where all congressional mail is processed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say they don't have a good answer as to why a postal worker who handled packages has inhalation anthrax.
As of yet, no anthrax spores have been found at the Brentwood office or the Baltimore-Washington International airport facility where the worker also handled packages. But both buildings have been closed and all 2,200 workers are being evaluated and treated with antibiotics.
All of this is taking place after environmental experts spent the weekend sweeping Senate and House office buildings and parts of the Capitol, which will be only be open for legislative business today.
Lieutenant Dan Nichols of the US Capitol Police says, "The office buildings will be closed until we have definitive test results."
Officials say the anthrax found in New York, Washington, and Florida is all the same strain and likely from the same source since two of the letters were postmarked Trenton, New Jersey.
FBI investigators continue canvassing this New Jersey area looking for leads. Sunday, postal workers employed here reported by the hundreds for testing and to receive antibiotics. But neither rain, snow, sleet, nor anthrax will stop the mail.
Deborah Willhite, a senior vice president at the postal service, says, "The mail will continue to be delivered every day. The economy and messages will continue to be moved."
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