Anthrax hunt down to the details

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The good news Wednesday was the total number of anthrax cases remained at 17 confirmed with five suspected infections -- the bad news was that for investigators, major leads have dried up and they are down to the details.

"I am struck at how difficult it is to get the kind of information we need to get on the day-to-day activities" of someone who lived alone, said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, referring to the investigation surrounding the latest inhalation anthrax death of Kathy Nguyen, 61, a New York hospital worker. "We still have no exposure explanation that would account for that (infection)."

Nguyen's death is puzzling because investigators cannot tie her to the usual suspected sources of possible anthrax exposure -- the postal service, certain media outlets or even Congress -- which are associated with anthrax letters or contamination from such mailings.

Koplan said while investigators have learned more about the woman's home life, it has been very difficult finding people who know her daily activity schedule, with even fewer leads on what unusual hobbies or habits she may have had that her close friends may not have known.

He said while they were tracking down reports Nguyen either worked in a restaurant part-time or had friends who owned a restaurant that served Asian food, he admitted it had been "hard to track down" these connections.

Koplan said New York officials are monitoring subway workers closely -- as that is considered a possible exposure route -- but so far have found no increase in illness among that group. CDC has all but ruled out a naturally occurring source of anthrax for her infection. Infections from natural sources are found among people who work with certain animals and some animal products.

He also said the agency had not ruled out the possibility Nguyen was an innocent bystander to some anthrax incident or had some inadvertent participation in one.

"In no way am I indicating any sense of wrongdoing at all by this individual," Koplan said, adding the agency was trying to "keep our thinking as broad as possible."

There have been four deaths from inhalation anthrax since Oct. 5 and while some cases of suspected cutaneous or skin anthrax infection still are being watched, no new inhalation infections have been found.

The CDC believes inhalation anthrax infection is only caused by direct contact with an anthrax letter containing powder or some other method of delivery and that cross contamination of mail or equipment is only likely to cause the less fatal cutaneous version. They are hard pressed, however, to come up with any reliable way to scientifically quantify how many spores are required for either type of infection.

Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge on Wednesday also admitted FBI investigators had come up with no new leads on the anthrax source. He said they continue to talk to laboratories that handle anthrax and are responding to hoaxes and tips, "some of which unfortunately are leading down a false path."

In response to criticism from lawmakers about the FBI's investigation of the anthrax cases, Ridge said the government does know which laboratories around the United States have anthrax samples and are talking to them.

Ridge said early reports the additive bentonite may have been used as a binding agent in making the anthrax powder a more powerful inhalation weapon have not been substantiated. He said the agency's investigation concluded it was not used and have no further leads from the analysis of the anthrax spores, which have been found in Florida, New York, Washington and New Jersey.

In other anthrax news Wednesday:

-- White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters samples from the American consulate in Lahore, Pakistan tested negative for anthrax. "I can confirm it was negative for anthrax," Fleischer said, adding the tests, done at Fort Detrick Army base in Frederick, Md., were conclusive. Earlier testing had indicated a positive result for anthrax.

-- Miami U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz has halted proceedings on a lawsuit by a postal workers union pending presentation of written arguments by both sides next week. Local 72 of the American Postal Workers Union in Miami are asking the court order fast-track arbitration to force testing of all post offices in the region for anthrax and closure of those facilities while they are being tested. It also wants testing for all postal employees and permission to wear masks and gloves.