The United States paid for its purchase of 100 million tablets of the anthrax antibiotic Cipro, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 29, 2001).  Meanwhile, security precautions for this year’s Winter Olympics include measures against anthrax and other biological weapons, according to reports (see GSN, Jan. 4).

The $593,000 cost for the antibiotics is included in a $20 billion appropriations bill signed yesterday by U.S. President George W. Bush, said Health and Human Services Department spokesman Bill Hall.

The Cipro supply will be included in the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile, which is kept in eight 50-ton “push packages” filled with medical supplies, Hall said.  The packages are stored throughout the country and can be shipped to any U.S. site within 12 hours if needed, he said.

Bayer, the maker of Cipro, met its goal of producing 200 million tablets by Dec. 27, said Bayer spokesman Mark Ryan (see GSN, Oct. 25, 2001).  Half of the 200 million will go to patient use, with the other half going to the federal government, he added.  Cipro has a shelf life of three years and Bayer has been contracted to keep the U.S. stockpile at 100 million tables, Ryan said (Joe Mandak, Associated Press, Jan. 11).

Keeping the Olympics Safe

Due to the recent U.S. anthrax attacks, most mail coming into the Olympic Village at this year’s winter games in Salt Lake City will be restricted, the Los Angeles Times reported today. Medical supplies, including antibiotics, are also being stockpiled (Serrano/Cart, Los Angeles Times, Jan. 11).

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