Italian contact of ex-spy 'well' in hospital after positive radiation test
By Paula White,WNS UK Senior Correspondent
LONDON - Britain's radioactive poisoning affair took a dramatic new twist as officials confirmed that a close contact of dead Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko had also tested positive for radiation. Italian academic Mario Scaramella was admitted to University College Hospital London (UCHL) after tests detected polonium 210 in his body, but he was said to be "well." "Tests have detected polonium 210 in Mr Scaramella's body, but at a considerably lower level than Mr Litvinenko," a UCHL spokesman said in a statement read to reporters on the steps of the hospital. "He is currently well and shows no symptoms of radiation poisoning. He's receiving further tests over the weekend."
Earlier Friday evening, public health officials said that an adult relative of Litvinenko had been exposed to polonium 210 -- a highly radioactive isotope -- but faced minimal risks. Britain's Sky News television reported that the relative was Litvinenko's wife Marina and the deadly toxin had been found on her clothes. And it emerged that police cordoned off a country hotel in the county of Sussex, south of London, as the investigation into Litvinenko's death continued apace. The general manager of the Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Park told Sky News: "I'm happy to say, happy to advise there's absolutely no concern to our guests and our staff and we are operating as normal at the moment." He refused to say whether Scaramella had been a guest there or whether radiation was found. The developments came as pathologists completed a potentially-hazardous post-mortem on Kremlin critic Litvinenko, who died a week ago claiming his killing was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime.
Health authorities reiterated that the risk to public health remained low, since the radioactive material at the heart of the scare is only harmful if ingested. But in a measure of the continuing high alert on the political level, the government again called a meeting of its COBRA top security cabinet, which is usually convened in national emergencies and has met regularly since the affair erupted. Scaramella has increasingly become the focus of the investigation. He met Litvinenko at a sushi restaurant on November 1 shortly before the Russian fell ill. The self-styled security expert, who has been under police guard at a London safe house, claimed he met Litvinenko to tell him both their names were on a Russian secret services hit list. Some have accused Scaramella of having a role in the poisoning case, but he has denied involvement.
posted by wnsworld @ 10:33 PM
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