Anthrax confirmed as cause of postal workers’ deaths

By Laura Meckler

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Officials confirmed anthrax today as the cause of death in two local postal workers, the latest victims in the nation’s bioterrorism scare. A mail employee was hospitalized in New Jersey, also believed to be suffering from the inhalation form of the disease.

“We now know the two deaths that were reported to you now are confirmed cases of inhalational anthrax,” District of Columbia Mayor Anthony Williams said at a news conference.

He spoke as a Postal Service official said roughly 3,400 employees across the nation’s capital had been evaluated and given antibiotics in 72 hours.

Ivan Walks, the city’s top health official, also announced an expansion in the number of people who should be treated as a precaution.

In all, Walks said, the city knew of two patients hospitalized with inhalation anthrax; two postal workers confirmed dead of the disease and four cases listed as suspicious. He said another 12 cases are being watched but are of “very low suspicion” for anthrax.

In addition, Walks said environmental testing proves anthrax spores are in the back work areas of the city’s central Brentwood mail facility. That means all employees need treatment, he said.

“We do not need to do further testing, but we need to treat and we need to treat quickly,” he said.

Not just postal workers but anyone who visited the back mail-processing area of any Washington postal facility that received mail from Brentwood needs to get the antibiotic treatment, added Deborah Willhite of the U.S. Postal Service.

She said the Brentwood facility has been declared a crime scene.

The disclosure came as New Jersey Health Commissioner George DiFerdinando said a postal worker in his state had contracted inhalational anthrax was hospitalized in serious but stable condition. She works at a facility that processed at least three anthrax-tainted letters mailed to Washington and New York.

The twin developments came as Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson pledged a more aggressive testing and treatment effort if additional tainted mail is received. He spoke after federal officials had spent time on Monday defending a delay in testing at the Brentwood facility.

“We’re going to err on the side of caution in making sure people are protected,” Thompson told Congress, one day after federal officials had been forced to defend a delay in testing at Washington’s central postal facility.

Thompson spoke as Congress returned to work for the first time since an anthrax scare struck Capitol Hill. Office buildings that house lawmakers and their staffs remained closed for continued testing. The Capitol itself was found to be safe for occupancy after follow-up tests allayed fears that anthrax had been located in three spots.

“Exhaustive environmental tests have been completed at the Capitol, and all results are negative,” said Capitol Police Lt. Dan Nichols. “There is no evidence of anthrax contamination or exposure in the Capitol building.”

At the same time, the FBI confirmed it is investigating whether other anthrax letters were processed through the Brentwood facility. The only known tainted letter was delivered to the office of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. Investigators have been unable to explain the presence of anthrax on a mail handling machine that serves the House.

The central facility handles mail not only for congressional offices, but for the entire District of Columbia.

Postal workers from as far away as Baltimore lined up outside a district hospital for testing and a supply of antibiotics. “We have not been treated right,” said Veola Jackson, a spokesman for the postal workers’ union at the Brentwood facility.

“I think this could have been avoided when they first saw that first piece of mail on the Hill.”

Several days elapsed between the discovery on Monday of anthrax-tainted mail in Daschle’s office and initial testing at the Brentwood facility. Officials explained their decision by saying that initial testing was negative at one of the postal facilities that the letter had passed through after leaving Brentwood.

Thompson told a congressional hearing that if other cases of anthrax emerge, officials would begin testing and treatment not only at the site where it was discovered but at every postal facility that the letter passed through.

In comments at the White House, House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt expressed frustration with a recent statement by Tom Ridge, director of Homeland Security, that the anthrax had not been “weaponized.”

“The words are not particularly helpful,” said Gephardt, D-Mo. “Obviously this stuff gets in the air and stays in the air. … You can call it anything you want to call it. This is not safe stuff.”

He added, “This is weapons-grade material.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend that thousands of mail workers from 36 post offices around the nation’s capital undergo testing and receive antibiotics.

Walks, interviewed on NBC’s “Today” program, said the tainted letter received in Daschle’s office was not the only one that passed through the city postal system. “It’s clear more than one letter was sent,” he said.

Two postal workers with inhaled anthrax remain hospitalized – resting comfortably, but in serious condition.

Officials identified the two men who died of inhalational anthrax as Joseph P. Curseen, 47, and Thomas L. Morris Jr., 55.

On Monday, the Postal Service defended a delay in looking for anthrax at the city’s central processing facility and considered new precautions for workers nationwide.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.