December 4, 2001

Health and Human Services officials say tens of thousands of letters processed weeks ago may have been contaminated with anthrax spores merely by coming in contact with intentionally poisoned mail; say such incidental contamination may have been source of contamination that killed woman in Connecticut and New York; HUD Sec Tommy Thompson and aides reiterate there is no evidence of widespread threat to public health; warn people with compromised immune systems to take protective measures; disclosures are latest in series suggesting how even small amounts of anthrax can be widely dispersed through mechanisms like mail service; reflects continuing revision of assessment of threat caused by anthrax bacteria in mail; deaths of Ottilie W Lundgren and Kathy T Nguyen from inhalation anthrax discussed; photo (M)

Many people believed missing in September 11 terrorist attacks are turning up alive; names cropped up on victims' lists and were duplicated without ever being verified; tales of people like Matt Heard, who was away on vacation but whose picture was posted at Union Square in lower Manhattan, explains why early estimates of those who died have turned out to be off target; photos (M)

Federal Reserve officials say they now expect modest and gradual economic recovery in 2002, not quick turnaround many investors and forecasters are expecting; interviews with central bankers suggest that they are open to at least one further interest rate cut (M)

Mirant Corp of Atlanta abandons its effort to buy control by Bewag, Berlin's electric utility, and sell its 44.8 percent stake to Vattenfall of Sweden for $1.63 billion; graph shows stock price of Bewag (S)

New York Giants Jessie Armstead plans to resume leadership position on team following season in which he has been more subdued than usual because of nagging injuries (M)