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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2001

With the anthrax scare in the nation's capital reaching new heights, President Bush on Tuesday said three times he does not have anthrax even though he refused to answer whether he has been tested for the rare bacterium.

Bush's remarks came after The White House confirmed that a small amount of anthax spores were discovered an off-site mail facility. That facility recieves mail through a U.S. Postal Service plant in Washington, D.C. known as Brentwood

Two postal workers at Brentwood died from pulmonary anthrax, the more serious and deadly version of the disease. Two more have been hospitalized with anthrax infections and are said to be stable.

A third postal worker in New Jersey has also been confirmed with the disease with another worker being hospitalized on suspicion of anthrax. New Jersey facilities and Brentwood have handled anthrax letters sent to the media and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D).

The deaths have lead to increased concen but little answers on the source of the anthrax. The first known death due to the disease was in Florida, an employee of the firm that produces The National Enquirer.

Whatever the source, federal officials have defended not testing affected postal workers and facilities now known to contain amounts of anthrax. At the time, health officials did not believe pulmonary anthrax could have shown up in workers since the skin version was found in the Senate where the Daschle letter was received.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson has asked Bayer to lower prices on Cipro, the drug widely cited as an anthrax treatment. Other cheaper and more common antibiotics, such as penicillin, can be used, however.

According to Thompson, he wants Bayer to drop the price to less than $1 per pill. Currently, Cipro has a street value of $4 to $5.

Get the Story:
Bush Balks at Anthrax-Test Question (The Washington Post 10/24)
Anthrax Threat Takes a Wider Scope; New Cases Emerge; Some Mail Halted (The Washington Post 10/24)
N.J. Postal Worker May Have Anthrax (The Washington Post 10/24)
Source of Tainted Mail Remains Mystery (The Washington Post 10/24)
U.S. Officials Defend D.C. Response (The Washington Post 10/24)
U.S. Seeks Price Cut From Cipro Maker (The Washington Post 10/24)
Facts on Anthrax: What It Is, What to Do (The Washington Post 10/24)
Officials Voice New Worry as Anthrax Taints Off-Site White House Mailroom (The New York Times 10/24)
Officials Admit Underestimating Danger Posed to Postal Workers (The New York Times 10/24)

Relevant Links:
Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program, Department of Defense - http://www.anthrax.osd.mil

Related Stories:
Congress asked for anthrax protections (10/18)
Daschle anthrax called 'potent' (10/17)
Penicillin can treat anthrax (10/17)
Anthrax no worry to Native newsrooms (10/16)
Indian Affairs not affected by anthrax (10/16)
Poll: Public concerned about anthrax (10/16)
Among cases, four with anthrax disease (10/16)
Letter mailed to Senate has anthrax (10/15)
New York City hit with anthrax scare (10/12)