From: believer@telepath.com Subject: IP: Anthrax Scare Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 18:39:22 -0600 To: believer@telepath.com Source: Indianapolis Star News http://starnews.com/news/citystate/98/oct/1030SN_anthrax.html Letter claims it was contaminated with Anthrax 29 people are contained, decontaminated at Planned Parenthood clinic By Stephen Beaven Indianapolis Star/News INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 30, 1998) -- At least 29 people were treated Friday afternoon for possible exposure to the deadly biological toxin Anthrax at a Planned Parenthood clinic at East 21st Street and Ritter Avenue. The FBI confirmed late Friday afternoon that clinics in New Albany and Bloomington received similar threats. The Planned Parenthood eastside clinic received a letter shortly after 1 p.m. with a simple message -- you have been exposed to Anthrax, according to the Indianapolis Fire Department. Police and health and safety workers swooped in soon after to quarantine the people in the building. At least a dozen professionals from the fire department's hazardous materials team entered the building in white decontamination suits with surgical masks and safety glasses to treat those inside. After being scrubbed down, the people in the clinic were being taken to area hospitals late Friday afternoon. "The last thing we want to do is contaminate a hospital," said one police official on the scene. "No one is showing symptoms at this time, but they are scared and upset." A worker at the clinic opened a plain beige envelope with a Cincinnati postmark Friday afternoon. Inside there was a simple letter with the threat. It was unclear if the letter actually contained Anthrax, which is generally used in biological warfare and terrorism. But even if it was a hoax, it looked real, according to IFD Lt. Jack Cassaday. "It looked like Anthrax so whoever sent it knew enough to package it the right way," he said. It has not been confirmed that the letter indeed was contaminated with Anthrax. The substance was being tested at a local lab, Cassaday added. The bacteria Anthrax has flu-like symptoms which do not surface until one to six days. The symptoms are high fever, chest pains and hemmoraging. ----------------------- NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ----------------------- **************************************************** To subscribe or unsubscribe, email: majordomo@majordomo.pobox.com with the message: (un)subscribe ignition-point email@address or (un)subscribe ignition-point-digest email@address **************************************************** www.telepath.com/believer ****************************************************