House shut down after dozens exposed to anthrax

By David Espo

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Congressional leaders ordered an unprecedented shutdown of the House today after more than two dozen people in Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle’s office tested positive for exposure to a highly concentrated form of anthrax.

“We will not let this stop the work of the Senate,” Daschle said at a news conference outside the Capitol. He said 31 people have had “positive nasal swabs,” including two Capitol police officers. Despite the vow to remain open, officials said all three of the Senate’s office buildings would be shut down Thursday and Friday for testing.

Daschle made his announcement a short while after Speaker Dennis Hastert said that anthrax had been found in the Senate’s mailroom.

“To ensure safety we thought it best to do a complete sweep, an environmental sweep,” he said, adding that House members and staff would be sent home at day’s end, until at least Tuesday.

Three government officials said today there was no evidence of any foreign or terrorist involvement although they continue to investigate the possibility. One official said there was evidence that could point toward a domestic culprit.

On a day of rapidly unfolding events, Hastert also told reporters that a suspicious package had been removed from his suite of staff offices on the fourth floor of the Capitol and was being tested for anthrax.

In addition, Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., announced that two of his aides had tested positive for exposure to anthrax. Feingold’s office is adjacent to Daschle’s suite in the Hart Senate Office Building. It was not known whether the aides had entered Daschle’s suite.

Five weeks after terrorist strikes killed thousands in New York and Washington, there was cause for bioterrorism concern elsewhere around the country. In New York, Gov. George Pataki announced that a test conducted in his midtown Manhattan office showed the presence of anthrax. Officials said the suite of offices had been closed for further testing and decontamination.

Pataki said one test did indicate “the probability of anthrax,” adding that “the odds are very high” that subsequent testing will confirm the presence of anthrax.

Outside of Washington, four people are known to have contracted anthrax and nine others have tested positive for the bacteria.

With word of the positive test results on Capitol Hill, officials opened a second anthrax testing center in the physician’s office on the first floor of the Capitol. A line extended up to the second floor. Tests also were available in an office building across the street. There, more than 1,000 people were tested on Tuesday and given a three-day supply of antibiotics as a precaution.

At his news conference, Hastert told reporters that his staff offices on the fourth floor of the Capitol had been placed under quarantine. Hastert spokesman John Feehery said the step was taken after an aide to the speaker recalled seeing a letter that bore lettering similar to what was on the letter sent to Daschle and a second anthrax-tainted letter addressed to NBC anchor Tom Brokaw.

Hastert also told reporters that anthrax had gotten “into the ventilation system” in Senate portion of the Capitol complex. But a short while later, Scott Lillibridge, a bioterrorism expert at the Department of Health and Human Services, said the only known evidence of anthrax was found in Daschle’s office across the street from the Capitol and in the Senate’s mailroom in a second office building.

“There is absolutely no evidence of infection at this point,” Daschle said. “All of those who had had this positive nasal swab have been on antibiotics for some time and the good news is that everyone is OK.”

Daschle, flanked by Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott, sought to ease concerns that had been raised by word of the positive test results and by Hastert’s announcement that House members and staff would be sent home at day’s end to allow for environmental testing.

“There will be a vote this afternoon,” Daschle said. “We will be in session and have a vote or votes tomorrow.”

Senate leaders were accompanied by numerous federal officials, several of whom stepped before the microphone to announce developments in the most reassuring manner possible.

“This particular strain of anthrax is sensitive to all antibiotics,” said Maj. Gen. John Parker, speaking on behalf of the Ft. Detrick military lab technicians in Maryland who performed the tests on the samples.

He described it as “common variety” anthrax.

While some of the anthrax-laced powder was refined in a way to make it airborne, preliminary tests suggest the strain was common to the United States, a government official said. The official added the letters sent to Brokaw and Daschle urged the use of medicine and alerted the recipients to the presence of the poison – something deemed unlikely for a terrorist seeking mass casualties.

In an atmosphere of some confusion, finger-pointing broke out between members of the House and Senate. Some senators openly questioned Hastert’s announcement of a shutdown. But at his second news conference of the day, Hastert said there had been an agreement between the two houses “that we would close our offices this evening.”

He said the Senate would conduct only a pro forma session on Friday, and its offices would be closed as well.

A positive finding does not mean the person has the disease or will get the disease. About 8,000 spores must be inhaled for a person to develop inhalation anthrax.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, testifying on Capitol Hill, said, “There’s no question this is a very serious attempt at anthrax poisoning.”

Lillibridge added: “There’s been some attempt to collect it, perhaps refine it and perhaps make it more concentrated. That seems certain.”

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.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

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.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

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.

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Two students walk along a path through campus Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. A group of nearly 20 community groups are planning to study how to make it easier for young people to find jobs. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Goal for Everett coalition: Make it easier for young people to find jobs

The organizations hope the months-long process will improve access to resources for young people.

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.