Wife Of Dead Russian Ex-Spy Tests Positive For Polonium
BLITZER: In Britain, new developments right now in the investigation into the death of that former Russian spy killed with a radioactive poison. Sources now say his widow is testing positive for traces of the same substance, Polonium 210. CNN's Paula Newton is following these very disturbing developments for us in London -- Paula.</s>PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, there have been new dramatic developments on this story all week long and it does continue. CNN has confirmed that, in fact, Marina, Alexander Litvinenko's wife, has tested positive. It is very, very low doses, low amounts of radiation. Nonetheless, of course, the family does have cause for concern. On top of that, Wolf, we also learned that someone very central to this case who met with Litvinenko on November 1st in that now infamous Japanese restaurant has also tested positive for radiation.</s>DR. KEITH PATTERSON, HEMATOLOGIST: The patient in question is Mario Scaramella, who met with Mr. Litvinenko on November the 1st, before Mr. Litvinenko was admitted to this hospital. Tests have detected Polonium 210 in Mr. Scaramella's body, but at a considerably lower level than Mr. Litvinenko's.</s>NEWTON: Now, what that means, Wolf, is that he is not gravely ill. In fact, he says he's feeling fine. They will continue to carry out those tests. At those low levels it should not give him any kind of organ failure or anything like that. And, in fact, the scientists I've spoken to said that after three months, it should be completely out of his body. Nonetheless, Wolf, the public scare around here continues. The police have been trying to determine where Mr. Litvinenko was and possibly his association (ph). Keep in mind, he was traveling all over this city for more than a week, shedding radiation, appeal, wherever he went. More than a dozen spots now with traces of radioactive poison, including those two British Airways planes that they're now still investigating. And then, of course, early this evening, a hotel, a luxury country hotel in southern England evacuated, again, with traces of radiation. They don't know exactly what kind. But, Wolf, this story will continue, I'm sure, for the next several days. A huge mystery.</s>BLITZER: So are people very, very scared? Are they walking around going to doctors, wanting to be tested for possible radiation poison?</s>NEWTON: Certainly, there were thousands of passengers who were on those British Airways jets. They're quite fearful right now. But you can imagine the panic here. And I don't want to overstate it. People have been told that, look, low levels of radiation won't hurt you. But when they continue to do things like evacuate hotels, you have to wonder. And this man did spend a lot of time in central London not knowing that he was so sick. As we pointed out before this week, Wolf, this Polonium was not just a murder weapon. It has now become a weapon of terror. Whether or not that was the intended motive of the assn, it doesn't really matter right now. This city is on edge and almost every day it hears of more places that are contaminated with Polonium.</s>BLITZER: All right, Paula, we'll stay in touch with you. Thank you very much. What a story going on. Coming up, Senator John McCain as a party crasher? He stole the spotlight from one person he might eventually need to upstage in 2008. And will the guest of honor show up for the party? The Cuban president, Fidel Castro -- his nation is celebrating his birthday, but it's anyone's guess if he'll be a no show. Stay with us.