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Anthrax cleanup a problem; university labs checked for bioterror risks

SUMMARY:

Anthrax, its cleanup on Capitol Hill and the threat it poses to homeland security continues to top domestic concerns. Federal officials have announced that the elaborate anthrax sanitizing process at the Hart Senate Office Building did not remove all the contamination.

Federal officials also have begun inspecting university labs throughout the United States to assess the security of biological samples and computer data.

UPDATE:

Environmental Protection Agency workers fumigated the Hart building with chlorine dioxide gas, which had never been used in such a large-scale effort before, officials said.

•  Summary   • Update   • Key questions   • Who's who   • Victims   • Impact

REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS   •  Emergency information   •  Partial list of victims   •  Victims story archives

CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

Preliminary results indicated the anthrax cleanup was not completely effective, Capitol Police Lt. Dan Nichols said. Nichols said further efforts would be made to remove anthrax contamination, probably using a liquid form of chlorine dioxide. He said he did not know when that process would begin.

Chlorine dioxide liquid already has been used successfully to clean up some isolated spots of contamination in other sections of the building. (Full story)

A team from the inspector general's office at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has begun inspecting facilities at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston to determine the security of biological samples. The investigation "could last up to four weeks," said Tom Curtis, a university spokesman. "It amounts to an audit."

The inspections mark a new and extensive campaign by the federal government to eliminate the risk of future bioterror attacks. More than 200 universities are registered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to perform research on potentially dangerous viruses and bacteria. (Full story)

KEY QUESTIONS:

What order did President Bush give that allows for the detention of terrorism suspects? Click here for more

Could the detainees be held for years? Click here to learn more on one case

Learn about one tool the FBI may be using to investigate suspects.

What is the government doing to fortify homeland defense? Click here for more

What are tips to know in the wake of the attacks? Click here for more

WHO'S WHO:

George W. Bush: U.S. president Click here for more.

Laura Bush: First lady of the United States, she has become more visible since the terrorist attacks, making public appearances urging parents and teachers to help reassure children that everything is being done to try to keep them safe. Click here for more

Tom Ridge: Director of the U.S. Office of Homeland Security, a new Cabinet-level position Click here for more

Richard Clarke: Head of efforts to safeguard information systems for the Office of Homeland Security Click here for more

Wayne Downing: Retired Army general tapped as deputy national security adviser Click here for more

Joe Allbaugh:The chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Click here for more

Dr. David Satcher: Surgeon General of the United States

Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan: Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Click here for more

Rudy Giuliani: Mayor of New York Click here for more

Michael Bloomberg: Mayor-elect of New York

Anthony A. Williams: Mayor of Washington

Dr. Ivan Walks: Director of the Department of Health for the District of Columbia

Paul O'Neill: Treasury secretary

Norman Y. Mineta:Transportation secretary

Jane Garvey: FAA administrator

VICTIMS:

The latest figures provided by federal and local officials give the following numbers of people dead or missing from the September 11 attacks.

WORLD TRADE CENTER: According to New York City officials, the death toll is 3,040. That figure includes 2,545 people who are missing and presumed dead, including the 157 on the two hijacked planes; 487 bodies have been identified.

PENTAGON: 64 dead on hijacked plane; another 125 missing and presumed dead

PENNSYLVANIA: 44 confirmed dead on hijacked plane

IMPACT:

The attacks of September 11 have sparked new debate about balancing the protection of U.S. citizens with the protection of the civil rights of those suspected of terrorism.

While the United States is proud of the freedoms and the legal rights guaranteed by the Constitution, authorities and many citizens have argued those people who seek to destroy America do not deserve such protections while they represent an ongoing threat to the country.

While those arguments continue, so do the threats against U.S. interests. Security remains high at airports, certain industries and many government facilities.