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Anthrax Strains Same in New York, Washington, Florida: U.S. Official
Anthrax strains used in attacks in Washington, New York and Florida are the same, suggesting that they might come from the same source, U.S. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said at a White House press conference Friday.
Ridge said that the strains were "indistinguishable" from one another. "It does appear that it may have been from the same batch. "
Ridge said that so far there are no test results to suggest the anthrax had been weaponized.
"I wish I could tell you that we've seen the end of it, but we obviously are preparing for more," he said.
Announcing a breakthrough in the investigation, Ridge said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had identified a mailbox used to send out anthrax-laced letters from New Jersey.
While acknowledging that more attacks were possible, Ridge said federal, state and local authorities were taking steps to protect the public.
"Our water supplies, power plants, dams and other critical infrastructures are being guarded and strengthened," Ridge said.
Ridge said the Bush administration has released 2 billion dollars to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The administration would also provide 550 million dollars in grants to state and local government to beef up their defenses against attacks and would give nearly 300 million dollars to the Department of Health and Human Services to boost local preparedness.
Two new cases of anthrax infection were found Friday, bringing the total number of infections to eight in the United States. In New York, city health officials said an infected employee at the New York Post newspaper was being treated and doing well. In New Jersey, a second postal worker had the skin form of the disease.
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