Anthrax found at Pentagon; cleanup stalled on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON -- Anthrax was detected inside the Pentagon and promptly removed, officials said Monday. Cleanup in the Senate office building where an anthrax-packed letter was opened proved more complicated.

Government agencies moved to test buildings around the country for the presence of anthrax spores, and officials at the Mayo Clinic unveiled a more rapid test for anthrax exposure.

Co-workers mourned the death of a New York hospital worker as investigators chased leads to the anthrax that killed her. Another victim came home from the hospital and a third came out of intensive care.

"Even though we have been confronted with a deadly disease, there is hope," said Norma Wallace, 56, a postal worker in Hamilton, N.J., who was released from the hospital Monday after more than two weeks of treatment for inhalation anthrax.

Public health officials looked for patterns among the 10 people infected with inhalation anthrax and prepared guidelines for doctors trying to distinguish it from the flu. And President Bush said he wants $175 million to buy mail-irradiation and other protective equipment for the Postal Service.

A postal facility in yet another government building tested positive for exposure -- this time inside the Pentagon.

Anthrax spores were found in two mailboxes at a post office in the building. The entire office was decontaminated over the weekend and further tests found no anthrax, officials said.

Some tests unreliable

Further testing at the Food and Drug Administration showed how unreliable initial anthrax tests can be: Four mailrooms in Rockville, Md., that had tested positive last week were cleared with further investigation.

And in New Jersey, postal workers at two mail stations thought contaminated were told to stop taking antibiotics after subsequent testing found no anthrax in West Trenton and only traces in Princeton.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said Monday they may have a DNA test that promises better results, produced in 30 minutes instead of days. "This should deter some of the anxiety," said Mayo microbiologist Franklin Cockerill.

The test is still experimental, though some laboratories plan to begin using it next week.

On Capitol Hill, scores of lawmakers returned to their quarters in the Longworth House office building, closed 10 days ago.