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CNN Live Saturday

NBC News Employees in New York Undergo Anthrax Testing

Aired October 13, 2001 - 16:27   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: More NBC News employees in New York are undergoing tests for anthrax, because of the case that turned up there. Let's get the latest from this now from CNN's Maria Hinojosa. She checks in from New York -- Maria.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, the NBC News employee who tested positive for anthrax is doing well and responding positively to the antibiotics that she's been placed on. And inside the NBC newsroom, employees are reacting to the news that anthrax was in their newsroom in the same way that many New Yorkers are reacting to that.

For some, it's created a tremendous sense of fear and worry and concern. For others, the fact that it has been detected and detected early, and the fact that several news organizations have taken precautionary steps, including CNN, closing down mailrooms, has made people feel that there's a sense of comfort in knowing and being prepared.

Now, today an answer to the question of how the 38-year-old employee, an assistant to Tom Brokaw, a mother of a toddler, became infected with anthrax. A threatening letter, postmarked September 18, from Trenton, New Jersey, containing not a powdery white substance, but instead a brown, granular substance was the culprit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI, NEW YORK: Postmarked it appears to be the 18th of September. That was sent to Tom Brokaw. That letter was tested last night, and it turns out to be positive to anthrax, or at least traces of anthrax. So, the letter itself when tested -- although there's no powder left, appears to have had -- appears to have contained anthrax.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HINOJOSA: Now, at the "New York Times," where yesterday a letter arrived containing a white powdery substance, that preliminary tests are showing came up negative for anthrax. The newsroom there is back to normal and is functioning after the air was tested and cleared. At the "New York Times," 30 employees, including the woman to whom the letter was addressed, have been placed on antibiotics protectively. Here at NBC, about 200 employees have been given the antibiotic for anthrax protectively. And one final note, the hospitals around New York City, according to the Greater New York Hospital Association, have been busier since yesterday, answering questions about people's health and anthrax -- Leon.

HARRIS: Maria Hinojosa in New York, thank you, Maria. See you soon.

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