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Breaking News

Five Additional Employees of American Media Inc. in Florida Tested Positive for Anthrax

Aired October 13, 2001 - 17:27   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: Let's go to our John King standing by in Washington with what I hear is breaking news -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, a breaking development, a troubling development, the Associated Press reporting that five more employees for that tabloid company in Florida have now tested positive for exposure to anthrax.

You remember we are now focusing on cases in New York and in Nevada. But the original anthrax cases came out of Boca Raton, Florida, employees for the American Media Company, one Bob Stevens, a 63-year-old man died last week of anthrax.

Two more employees tested positive for exposure. That is the key distinction. They have not developed symptoms, but they have tested positive for exposure. We knew of two.

The Associated Press now quoting a company spokesman as saying five more employees have tested positive for exposure to Anthrax. You had Dr. Gupta on earlier. I'm sure he would say this could be treated if caught at its early stages.

But again, a federal investigation, a criminal investigation going on in Florida as well as a public health investigation, according to this information just in from the Associated Press, five additional employees.

That would bring to seven, if our math is correct, that tested positive for exposure to Anthrax, those employees at the same company that employed the 63-year-old Florida man, Bob Stevens, who died of Anthrax last week.

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