Newsstand - Substance Found on Aircraft in Vermont Not Anthrax

Substance Found on Aircraft in Vermont Not Anthrax

Gov. Howard Dean and Vermont Health Commissioner Jan Carney today announced that tests have conclusively proven that a white powdery substance found earlier this week in the cargo hold of a commercial jetliner at the Burlington International Airport does not contain anthrax.

Commissioner Carney said her office was contacting 66 passengers, crew, baggage handlers, police and rescue personnel to pass along the good news. Those involved have been taking doses of antibiotic as a preventive measure. The commissioner said they will discontinue the antibiotic treatment in light of today's findings.

In addition, the plane and baggage have been cleared, and Northwest Airlink carrier Express Airlines I is expected to retrieve the plane from the airport, where it has remained since the Monday night incident. Express Airlines I will deliver the baggage from the flight to customers this evening.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011019/mnf012_1.html

How dumb is this....

Northwest Pulls Sweetener Packets
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) - Northwest Airlines has pulled artificial sweeteners and powdered coffee creamer from all flights amid concerns about white powder found on two flights.

The carrier removed packets of the powdery substances Wednesday to prevent delays and ease fears amid the anthrax threat, Northwest spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said Friday.

On Monday, passengers were detained on a jet in Detroit for more than an hour after a white powdery substance - apparently food crumbs - was found.

Also Monday, a substance was found on top of baggage that was being removed from a jet in Burlington, Vt. As a precaution, officials recommended antibiotics for the passengers and crew, but the state Health Department said Friday that tests showed the material was not anthrax.

"Results of our 72-hour laboratory tests are conclusive," said Dr. Jan Carney, the health commissioner. "The white powder does not contain anthrax bacteria. This is a relief to us all."

The department was working to contact the people individually to tell them they could stop taking the medicine.

Sugar and salt are still available aboard Northwest flights, because their crystals are more easily identifiable, Ebenhoch said.

Passengers won't be prohibited from bringing their own sweeteners or powdered creamers aboard, although Ebenhoch said the airline would prefer that they not do so.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2001/oct/19/101900019.html

Please also see:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/005255.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/002178.html