WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Thursday an employee of the department has tested positive for anthrax.
The employee works at the State Department's main mail handling facility in Sterling, Va. The mail comes to this facility from the Brentwood mail facility in Washington, where two employees this week died due to anthrax exposure.
Washington Mayor Anthony Williams described the man's condition as "highly suspicious" and health officials were waiting for the results of one final confirmation test for inhalation infection.
All employees at the Sterling mail handling facilities were put on a 10-day prescription for Cipro, the antibiotic specifically prescribed for anthrax. The Sterling facility was closed down, according to Boucher.
"We don't know where and how he was exposed," Boucher said. "He is in the hospital and being treated."
Since the Sept. 11 strikes, FBI counter-terrorism agents have on two occasions swept the building after employees from the mailroom at the State Department reported packages containing suspicious powder. In both occasions the State Department did not evacuate the building.
The State Department on Wednesday placed all mailroom employees on the Anthrax antibiotic. Earlier this month, all embassies were instructed to purchase a three-day supply of Cipro. On Wednesday, the State Department issued new guidelines for opening mail that came into the department.
