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CNN Live Saturday

Washington Health Officials Switch From Cipro to Doxycycline as Drug of Choice to Treat Anthrax

Aired October 27, 2001 - 16:01   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.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN ANCHOR: And we begin with the anthrax investigation. To date, there are 13 known cases of anthrax infections in the United States. Three people have died after inhaling the bacteria. There are four other cases of inhalation anthrax and six people have been diagnosed with the cutaneous or skin form of the infection.

Joining us is CNN Medical Correspondent Rhonda Rowland who is here is Washington.

RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bob, Washington health officials said today that they are making a change in the way they are treating people who may have been exposed to Anthrax.

As you know, the first line of therapy has been Cipro but today they said that they are now going to be switching Doxycycline. And the Washington health experts explained why they are making this change.

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DR. IVAN WALKS, D.C. CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER: Well, we have thousands just in the District alone. We passed the 10,000 mark earlier today -- actually we passed the 10,000 mark. And I think that that should concern us because this is a very large clinical trial. We have not put this many people in one concentrated area on this number of antibiotics if not ever in certainly a long period of time and certainly not on an antibiotic like Ciprophoxicen (ph).

So I think that one of the good things now is that we are actually able to identify the anthrax and identify its susceptibility to other medications. People are now going to be switched from Cipro to Doxycycline because it can be more easily tolerated. And, in fact, the new folks who we're starting on medication will be started on Doxycycline, including, as was reported yesterday, the Supreme Court Justices who will be started on medication will be started on Doxycycline.

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ROWLAND: Dr. Walks said some people in Washington who are taking Cipro have been complaining about the side effects, which can include a rash and upset stomach and some people can even have an allergic reaction which can be life threatening if it's not treated immediately. Bob?

FRANKEN: Well, the confusion that I have is that they just finished having a much heralded deal with the people who make Cipro, which is Bayer Aspirin, to reduce the price of it. And now they seem to be abandoning the medication. What's going on?

ROWLAND: Well, this will not change that deal that was struck this week with Bayer to bring in more Cipro so we have it in the stockpile. It's very important to have this antibiotic in the stockpile. But all along health officials have said, Bob, that this particular strain of Anthrax is responsive to a range of antibiotics including Penicillin and Doxycycline and they want the public to have confidence in these other antibiotics.

FRANKEN: But still I have to ask -- Cipro has very, very strong reactions because it's such a powerful medicine. Is Doxycycline as powerful, as effective?

ROWLAND: Well, with this particular strain of Anthrax, which has been seen in Florida, New York and Washington, Doxycycline is just as effective as Cipro. So anybody who gets Doxycycline is not getting a second rate antibiotic. This one will be just as effective in preventing Anthrax if they have been exposed.

FRANKEN: Thank you, Rhonda.

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