I'm sure I will hear about it for jumping into such as heated discussion first time out, but I felt the need to respond to the hysterical tone in most of this thread. I am Dedalus's fiancee (some of you may remember me as Foxy from the last site). I have been home all day with the news on in the background most of the time. For the sake of some much needed reassurance I would like to report what I have heard on MSNBC today.
The second case of anthrax is not being viewed as the beginning of an outbreak/terrorist attack.
Firstly, mass outbreaks (of anthrax or almost any other contagion used in biological warfare) do not have four day breaks in between the first two victims.
Secondly, the second victim has what is being referred to as a "very mild" case which will likely and hopefully not be fatal.
Thirdly, there is absolutely no information being given on how the two victims contracted anthrax, but it is definitely notbeing said that it was from a contaminated keyboard. This would be a very unlikely route of transport for anthrax which is notoriously a complicated disease to spread. There are many reasonable ways that the first victim could have contracted this and anthrax appears in hospitals at times without alarm of biological warfare.
We are all a little jumpy lately and unfortunately the rumors and overeager television reporting do not help. Let's try to be responsible here and not add to the type of overreaction that can lead to misinformed hysteria and hate.
In response to Mr. Moe's experience it may be entirely possible that the fear and confusion of today have led to an unintentional and unknowing overdramatization of events. Either way, I sincerely hope that everything is alright and that everyone is safe. Times like this are when all the crazies come out of the woodwork and what happened to Mr. Moe's boss may be completely unrelated to terrorism or current events in general.
Virginia