Anthrax traces found at Washington VA hospital -- WAR/TERRORISM NEWS ARCHIVE

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Subject: Anthrax traces found at Washington VA hospital

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Date Posted: 13:52:18 12/03/01 Mon

http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/11/03/inv.anthrax.va/index.html
Anthrax traces found at Washington VA hospital
November 3, 2001 Posted: 8:10 PM EST (0110 GMT)

November 3, 2001 Posted: 8:10 PM EST (0110 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A mailroom in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center has tested positive for anthrax, the federal agency reported Saturday.

The mailroom is located in a hospital that houses 250 patients but is not near patient areas, said Phil Budahn, the VA's media relations director. But, he added, hospital officials are keeping "a close eye on patients."

Swabs were taken in the mailroom October 30 because the hospital receives its mail from the main Brentwood branch post office in Washington, the facility that processed an anthrax-laden letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. Two Brentwood postal employees have died of inhalation anthrax, and two others are hospitalized with the same disease.

Of the 22 swabs, one was positive, Budahn said. Administrators closed the mailroom, he said.

Five mailroom employees have been on antibiotics since October 25, and investigators have not found evidence that anthrax has spread at the hospital, he said. "There is absolutely no indication this is a problem beyond the mailroom," Budahn said.

Hospital administrators at present are not considering moving patients, Budahn said.

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