Biowar Scares America

Oct 13, 2001

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, Friday - US authorities Thursday stepped up their probe of anthrax infections into a full-blown criminal investigation as the discovery of a third case in Florida fuelled a wave of panic over possible bioterror attacks.

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, Friday - US authorities Thursday stepped up their probe of anthrax infections into a full-blown criminal investigation as the discovery of a third case in Florida fuelled a wave of panic over possible bioterror attacks. The White House expressed concern over the cases — one of them fatal. The sudden appearance of the anthrax bacteria “remains an issue of concern for the federal government,” said spokesman Ari Fleischer. “We do have the kind of investigation that investigates a criminal act,” Attorney General John Ashcroft told NBC’s Today show. Authorities said they had no evidence to link the cases to the recent terrorist onslaught. But President George W. Bush said further acts of terrorism could be imminent, and officials have not ruled out the use of deadly biological agents. Bush said at a White House news conference Thursday that the government had received a “general” threat that more terrorist strikes could target the country within days. His brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, ordered the southern state to stockpile medicines and vaccines that could be issued rapidly in case of a chemical or biological attack. Ends

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