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| Pair test positive for polonium | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A contact and a family member of dead ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko have tested positive for polonium-210. | |
| Italian Mario Scaramella is not thought to be suffering physical symptoms but the amount found is "likely to be of concern for [his] immediate health". | |
| A member of Mr Litvinenko's family, thought to be his wife, has also been found to have traces of the substance. | |
| However, she is reported to be "very slightly contaminated" and has not been admitted to hospital. | |
| Mr Scaramella met Mr Litvinenko at a sushi restaurant, Itsu, in central London on the day he fell ill. | |
| He has now been admitted to London's University College Hospital for further tests. | |
| But a spokesman for the Health Protection Agency said: "The levels are not significant enough to result in any illness in the short term and the results are reassuring in that any increased risk in the long term is likely to be very small." | But a spokesman for the Health Protection Agency said: "The levels are not significant enough to result in any illness in the short term and the results are reassuring in that any increased risk in the long term is likely to be very small." |
| The post-mortem examination on Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB agent, has been completed. | The post-mortem examination on Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB agent, has been completed. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I work in the one of the office buildings where polonium-210 has been detected, and we have had no assistance at all from the authorities Gate, London Send us your experiences | HAVE YOUR SAY I work in the one of the office buildings where polonium-210 has been detected, and we have had no assistance at all from the authorities Gate, London Send us your experiences |
| Those present at the examination at the Royal London Hospital, in east London, wore protective clothing to avoid contamination by traces of the polonium-210 isotope. Results may not be available for several days. | Those present at the examination at the Royal London Hospital, in east London, wore protective clothing to avoid contamination by traces of the polonium-210 isotope. Results may not be available for several days. |
| Mr Scaramella is involved in an Italian parliamentary inquiry into KGB activity and was sufficiently worried by the contents of an e-mail to ask for advice from Mr Litvinenko. | |
| The e-mail said that he, Mr Litvinenko and an Italian senator, Paolo Guzzanti, were possible targets for assassination. | |
| Mr Scaramella and Mr Litvinenko met at Itsu on 1 November, although in the aftermath the Italian academic suggested he had not eaten anything. | Mr Scaramella and Mr Litvinenko met at Itsu on 1 November, although in the aftermath the Italian academic suggested he had not eaten anything. |
| An HPA spokesman refused to confirm that the positive test related to Mr Scaramella, but said the amount found was "likely to be of concern for their immediate health". | An HPA spokesman refused to confirm that the positive test related to Mr Scaramella, but said the amount found was "likely to be of concern for their immediate health". |
| A statement said: "The agency can confirm it was informed this morning that tests have established that a further person - who was in direct and very close contact with Mr Litvinenko - has a significant quantity of the radioactive isotope Polonium-210 in their body." | A statement said: "The agency can confirm it was informed this morning that tests have established that a further person - who was in direct and very close contact with Mr Litvinenko - has a significant quantity of the radioactive isotope Polonium-210 in their body." |
| Mr Litvinenko died last week in a London hospital | Mr Litvinenko died last week in a London hospital |
| The academic later arrived at University College Hospital in an ambulance. | The academic later arrived at University College Hospital in an ambulance. |
| A room was sealed off at Ashdown Park Hotel in Sussex. It is thought this is in connection with the investigation into Mr Scaramella. | A room was sealed off at Ashdown Park Hotel in Sussex. It is thought this is in connection with the investigation into Mr Scaramella. |
| Cobra, the government's emergency planning committee, met at 1600 GMT on Friday, with a spokesman saying the Italian government had been informed of the situation regarding Mr Scaramella. | Cobra, the government's emergency planning committee, met at 1600 GMT on Friday, with a spokesman saying the Italian government had been informed of the situation regarding Mr Scaramella. |
| UKIP MEP Gerard Batten, an acquaintance of Mr Scaramella, said he had seemed fine when they last spoke. | UKIP MEP Gerard Batten, an acquaintance of Mr Scaramella, said he had seemed fine when they last spoke. |
| "The last time I spoke to him, on Sunday I think, his worry about his own contamination had been allayed - he thought he was ok." | "The last time I spoke to him, on Sunday I think, his worry about his own contamination had been allayed - he thought he was ok." |
| EXPOSURE RISK Contact with carrier's sweat or urine could lead to exposureBut polonium-210 must be ingested to cause damageRadiation has very short range and cannot pass through skinWashing eliminates traces | EXPOSURE RISK Contact with carrier's sweat or urine could lead to exposureBut polonium-210 must be ingested to cause damageRadiation has very short range and cannot pass through skinWashing eliminates traces |
| Mr Guzzanti has indicated he fears for his life and is contacting Italian authorities to check if he has been poisoned. | Mr Guzzanti has indicated he fears for his life and is contacting Italian authorities to check if he has been poisoned. |
| Mr Litvinenko, an ex-KGB officer and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died last week of radiation poisoning attributed to polonium-210. | Mr Litvinenko, an ex-KGB officer and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died last week of radiation poisoning attributed to polonium-210. |
| The investigation into the spy's death has unearthed traces of radiation at 12 locations, including two BA planes. | The investigation into the spy's death has unearthed traces of radiation at 12 locations, including two BA planes. |
| British Airways is contacting 33,000 passengers from 221 flights, but the airline and the government have stressed any risk to public health low. | British Airways is contacting 33,000 passengers from 221 flights, but the airline and the government have stressed any risk to public health low. |
| Yegor Gaidar became violently ill with a mystery illness Ex-PM has mystery illness | Yegor Gaidar became violently ill with a mystery illness Ex-PM has mystery illness |
| On Friday the British Embassy in Moscow said there was no information to suspect any link between Mr Litvinenko's death and former prime minister of Russia Yegor Gaidar, who was taken ill in the Republic of Ireland. | On Friday the British Embassy in Moscow said there was no information to suspect any link between Mr Litvinenko's death and former prime minister of Russia Yegor Gaidar, who was taken ill in the Republic of Ireland. |
| But RTE news reported that the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland is checking the National University of Ireland Maynooth, County Kildare, and the James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin for the presence of polonium. | But RTE news reported that the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland is checking the National University of Ireland Maynooth, County Kildare, and the James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin for the presence of polonium. |
| The university has done its own parallel tests, which it says were negative. | The university has done its own parallel tests, which it says were negative. |
| Friends of Mr Litvinenko say Russian intelligence agents plotted to kill the former spy. | Friends of Mr Litvinenko say Russian intelligence agents plotted to kill the former spy. |