Anthrax: Searching for the source

SUMMARY:

Despite the recent anthrax exposures and infections in New York, Washington and Florida, investigators say they still have not established whether the bacteria's source is domestic or international.

The new "working hypothesis," spurred by the discovery of anthrax spores in an off-site State Department mail facility, is that more than one anthrax-laced letter went through the area's postal system.

Washington, D.C., health officials said they will start perscribing doxycycline -- rather than the previous drug-of-choice, Cipro. CDC sources say they want to achieve a better balance in the types of antibiotics used.

This announcement came the same day that hundreds of people, including Washington Mayor Anthony Williams, turned out for the funeral of postal worker Joseph Curseen, Jr. -- the third person to die of inhalation anthrax in the last month.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the starting point for anthrax-tainted letters sent to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw and the New York Post, two postal workers with suspected cases of inhalation anthrax are improving, state health officials said.

CASE HISTORY:

VIDEO CNN's Susan Candiotti interviews Ernesto Blanco, one of the Florida victims from American Media Inc. who contracted inhalation anthrax (October 26) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

• Summary   • Case history   • Key questions   • Bottom line

IN-DEPTH  VIDEO/AUDIO   •  Investigators baffled by 94-year-old woman's death  MORE STORIES   •  Gephardt: Anthrax cleanup 'tougher than expected'   •  Official: CIA uses anthrax, but no link to letters  EXTRA INFORMATION   •  Anthrax symptoms   •  Tracking the bacteria  RESOURCES   •  Advice on suspicious packages   •  Message board

Infections -- 13

Florida -- Robert Stevens, dead of inhalation anthrax

Washington -- Two postal workers from the Brentwood facility, dead from inhalation anthrax

Washington -- Two Capitol Hill postal workers, both inhalation anthrax

Washington area -- U.S. State Department mailroom employee, inhalation anthrax

New York -- New York Post employee, cutaneous anthrax infection

New York -- NBC News employee, cutaneous anthrax infection

New York -- ABC News, baby of producer, cutaneous anthrax infection

Florida -- Ernesto Blanco, diagnosed with inhaled anthrax infection, was released from the hospital on October 24

New York -- CBS employee in Dan Rather's office, cutaneous anthrax infection

New Jersey -- A Hamilton Township postal worker, cutaneous anthrax infection; a second postal worker in Trenton, New Jersey, also tested positive for the same infection

Exposures -- 32

Washington -- 28 people in the Hart Senate Office Building

Florida -- Stephanie Dailey, an American Media Inc. employee

New York -- One police officer, two lab technicians who were investigating NBC News facility

KEY QUESTIONS:

What do investigators do when anthrax is found? Click here for more

What happens when a building becomes a crime scene? Click here for more

How can something be decontaminated?

What should be done with suspicious mail? Click here for more

Are antibiotics available to combat anthrax? Click here for more

How quickly do anthrax symptoms manifest? Click here for more

BOTTOM LINE:

As the anthrax contamination spreads, health officials are changing the way they are handling the investigation and treatment of the bacterial threat. Weeks after the probe of anthrax threats began, those on the front lines of the investigation will get the anthrax vaccine. With anthrax spreading through the mail, some postal workers are angry that more has not been done to protect them from the potentially deadly bacteria.