WASHINGTON—Tests confirmed today that weak, scant amounts of anthrax were found at the off-site mail facility of the Federal Communications Commission.
The Center for Disease Control “reported to the FCC today that the trace showed a very slow platelet growth, which indicates a weak or very scant amount of anthrax consistent with cross-contamination of mail. As a result, we are making arrangements for the Capitol Heights mail processing area to be decontaminated and retested as soon as possible. Resumption of United States Postal Service mail deliveries will not commence until that process has been satisfactorily completed,” said the FCC’s Office of Managing Director in a statement posted on the FCC’s Web site late Monday.
Originally the FCC had said the eight contract employees working at the facility had been put on preventive antibiotics. But since the amount of anthrax was insignificant, the CDC rescinded that recommendation, noting that antibiotics “are only to be taken for inhalation anthrax, and if continued, could be harmful in some situations.”
The Public Health Service informed the FCC on Jan. 31 of its preliminary test results after the first of what is expected to be routine testing of the off-site facility on Jan. 29 showed the trace amounts. Also on Jan. 31, a PHS physician met with concerned FCC staff.
The PHS believes the anthrax is from mail cross-contamination springing from letters sent to the U.S. Senate last fall.
All mail sent to the FCC is now irradiated before processing.
Ironically, the Senate Hart Building, which was closed in October after a letter to Senate Majority Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.), was found to be contaminated, re-opened on Jan. 29.
