Watercooler Stories

CDC PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE SMALLPOX THREAT

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not think that there is much of a threat of the reintroduction of smallpox into the U.S. population, it has issued a report on what to do if that should happen. The agency says that any intentional release of the once-pervasive disease is "very unlikely."

Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, director of the Atlanta-based CDC, says that his group's new report -- "Interim Smallpox Response Plan and Guidelines" -- is being released to health groups around the nation.

Although a vaccine for smallpox has not been made in this country since the 1980s, the CDC and other healthcare agencies have been negotiating for a possible resumption of production in limited quantities.

By the way, the World Health Organization, a division of the U.N., declared smallpox eradicated in 1980; the last cases were in Somalia. There have been a few cases since the announcement of the eradication, but those came from accidental exposure in laboratories.

AFGHAN WOMEN FLOCKING TO SCHOOLS

Now that the rule of the Taliban is collapsing in Afghanistan, women -- long subjugated and denied nearly all rights, including the right to free access and education -- are flocking back to institutions of higher learning. Gwen Florio, reporting from Kabul for the Denver Post, says that more than 100 women registered at college campuses in the Afghan capital on Monday.

At one time women comprised more than 60 percent of the school-going population in that country. After the Russian pullout from Afghanistan major schools and universities were closed for three years while they were checked for land mines and rebuilt. When they reopened, it was only a few years before the Taliban exerted its influence and told women they could no longer register.

In the years since, many Afghan women have secretly been schooled in homes, risking humiliation, torture or death to continue their education.

CLAIMS DISMISSED IN COLUMBINE CASE

A court in Denver has dismissed a series of lawsuits brought by families of victims and survivors of the Columbine High School shooting spree of April 1999. Court records show that U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock, in making the ruling, dismissed most of the claims of the plaintiffs, but blasted the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department for what he called "indifference" in not going to the aid of a mortally wounded teacher.

David Sanders had saved the lives of many students by rushing into the school's cafeteria and ordering an evacuation. Sanders was shot twice by one of the student gunmen. His daughter sued, claiming that the sheriff's department knew her dad needed medical attention but their lockdown of the school prevented Sanders from leaving or anyone going to his aid.

The judge is letting the daughter's suit continue and said he was "appalled" by some of the testimony he heard.

AIRLINE SUES ATLANTA 'GATECRASHER'

The man who ran down an "up" escalator in an attempt to retrieve his video camera, find his son and get on a plane -- causing a shutdown of the Atlanta airport a week ago -- is being sued by AirTran Airlines. The company says it incurred damages and lost income when Michael Shane Lassiter's actions forced a security shutdown of the sprawling airfield, including the concourse that serves AirTran.

The Atlanta Journal and Constitution is reporting that the airline is seeking $100,000 in damages. Meanwhile, Lassiter says that he is "under siege" since his actions, which he says are something any worried parent would have done.

The airport was shut down for three hours after the incident.