The Plague

[Declan McCullagh]

from today's white house briefing...

Q And if I can ask you one final question -- what can you tell us about
the Texas Tech problem, bubonic plague samples apparently missing from a lab
there?

MR. FLEISCHER: I'm aware of the report, and this is a matter that the FBI
and the CDC have been in touch with Texas Tech about. And anything further will
come from them. That's the extent of everything I have on this now.

Q They're saying that the White House has been briefed on this.

MR. FLEISCHER: That's correct.

Q Your briefing was nothing more than --

MR. FLEISCHER: This is information that is just coming in to the White
House and has been for just a short period of time, as well as to the FBI. I'm
not in a position to give you any additional information at this time about it,
and it's something that is being talked to with the FBI and the CDC to ascertain
what all the facts are.

Q Not even to the extent of how much is missing, or how long it's been
missing?

MR. FLEISCHER: No, these are all the facts that are being ascertained as
we speak.