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CNN Live At Daybreak

Anthrax Scare: Reno Letter Tests Negative For Anthrax, Says CDC

Aired October 16, 2001 - 08:14   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.
ZAHN: Thanks John and authorities now have test results from the suspicious letter sent to a Microsoft subsidiary in Reno, Nevada and in this instance, at least, the news is good.

Medical correspondent Rhonda Rowland is at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta with that part of the anthrax story.

Good morning Rhonda.

RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Paula.

And you're absolutely right, we actually have some reassuring news about that letter containing pornographic photographs out in Reno, Nevada. The results were negative for anthrax, and here's what a CDC official told us about the testing process.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

DR. DAVID FLEMING, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CDC: In the situation in Nevada, the question is whether there is the bacteria that causes anthrax, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) traces on this letter and the laboratory in Nevada is a very competent laboratory. But they did several tests but they got different results.

Some indicated that yes it was present. Some indicated that no it was not present. What we can do here at CDC is more sophisticated testing methodology that will prove one way or the other the certainty whether or not that bacteria is present.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

ROWLAND: So again, the bacteria was negative and this just reemphasizes the need to carefully interpret any of the preliminary results on the anthrax test.

Rhonda Rowland, CNN, reporting live from the CDC.

ZAHN: Thanks so much Rhonda.

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