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CNN Live At Daybreak

Anthrax in America: CIA Mail Room Contaminated

Aired October 26, 2001 - 08:01   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Overnight, we have learned that traces of anthrax were found at the CIA facility where incoming mail is sorted. It is now one of several government sites testing positive for anthrax exposure in the Washington area.

Medical correspondent Rea Blakey is at the Brentwood Mail Center, which has become, basically, ground zero in this war against Washington anthrax.

Good morning again, Rea.

REA BLAKEY, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Ground zero is probably a very good description. All of the other facilities that have tested positive have somewhat of a relationship with Brentwood in that they either received mail, or postal workers at those other facilities come here to gather mail.

Let's show you a map, so that you get a sense of the locality here in Washington. Again, we're at the Brentwood facility. There have been at least two employees with the State Department, contract mail room employees, who have some circumstances involving possible anthrax exposure. The other gentleman in guarded condition -- I'll tell you more about that in a second.

I also want to show you there on the map, Langley, Virginia, is where the CIA is. Again, an insignificant amount of anthrax located in the mail room there. And then, of course, the mention of Walter Reed Army Institute, in Silver Spring, Maryland. Once again, anthrax found in that mail room.

Now, the specifics on the contract workers at the State Department: a 59-year-old Winchester, Virginia, man, listed in guarded condition at Winchester Virginia Medical Center, that individual reported to the hospital on Wednesday with what we're told were flu- like symptoms. He was immediately given pill-form Cipro. Tests were conducted by the Virginia State Health Department, and within 24 hours, the Health Department called this gentleman back, got him back into the hospital, put him on IV Cipro and at least two other antibiotics. Again, he's listed in guarded condition. He handled bulk mail that came through this Brentwood facility.

A second individual, according to the State Department, also associated with the Sterling, Virginia, location, is being tested for possible anthrax exposure, we're told at this time. At the CIA, again, the mention is of trace amounts, medically insignificant -- I just want to reinforce that -- and again, the Silver Spring location -- all of this relating somewhat to the Brentwood facility.

The public health commissioner in Washington, D.C., who has been a very busy man these days, indicates that he spoke with someone who says the Virginia man, who was in guarded condition, never actually came to this facility.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. IVAN WALKS, D.C. CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER: I spoke with one of the physicians at the hospital today, where that gentleman is hospitalized, and I asked that question. That physician went to the gentleman and asked him, Does your job require you to go to Brentwood? And his answer was, Never.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLAKEY: Now, keep in mind that the U.S. Postal Service is urging all private organizations that have business with this Brentwood facility, in regards to the mail room, that all of those people be treated with Cipro prophylactically.

And then, of course, there are the other 200 postal facilities all up and down the Eastern Seaboard, at this point, that are undergoing environmental screening and testing to try and determine exactly how much anthrax may or may not be in those locations.

And all government mail room employees are asked to be treated at this time, prophylactically, just in case. Paula, the scope continues to widen.

ZAHN: Now, Rea, I'm trying to do the math in my head. So basically, we have what? I heard one statistic this morning: 10,000 people in this country on Cipro?

BLAKEY: That's the estimate, that there could be as many as 10,000 people on Cipro in the Washington area. We are told the number of postal employees in Washington, New York, and New Jersey could add up to as many as 8,000.

So it's a significant number, and by all signs, it's quite possible that number will continue to increase.

ZAHN: Wow! Rea, thanks.

On Capitol Hill, as you know, the threat of anthrax grows as Congress moves swiftly to pass anti-terrorism legislation.

Kate Snow is standing by with more on these stories. Take it away, Kate.

KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Overwhelming approval, in both the House and the Senate, for an anti-terrorism measure. Yesterday, the Senate passed this bill 98-1, with just one Democratic senator, Russ Feingold, voting against the bill.

Now, this anti-terrorism bill would provide the following. It provides expanded electronic surveillance. Law enforcement would be permitted, for example, to obtain subpoenas to track a suspected terrorist's e-mail records. Also intelligence sharing between government agencies is made easier. It requires background checks for anyone who wants to transport hazardous materials, and it would allow the detention of non-Americans suspected of terrorism for up to seven days.

Now, most of those provisions will expire in four years. They did that to appease some of the concerns of some of those who are worried about civil liberties being violated, so they will sort of sunset these provisions in four years.

Attorney General John Ashcroft is praising this bill, saying it's absolutely necessary, right now, in the fight against terrorism. The president is expected to sign this bill later on this morning.

Also this morning, another Senate office building is due to reopen -- 9:00 Eastern Time -- about an hour from now. And we just shot some video about a half hour ago, though. The same building that's about to open -- you see people in protective gear, environmental teams, just outside the Dirkson Senate Office Building, getting ready, presumably, to go in and work on the contaminated mail room that's in that building, which has been sealed off from the rest of the building.

The rest of the building, again, will be reopened just about an hour from now, and staff and employees will be allowed to go into that building, of course, wearing work clothes.

The Hart Senate Office Building, meantime, the building that I'm standing in front of, will not reopen any time soon. In fact, last night two new hot spots identified.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD), MAJORITY LEADER: Evidence of anthrax was found on the air conditioning filter on the 9th floor of the Hart Building, and the stairwell leading from the 8th to the 9th floor. The experts say this is neither a surprise, nor a concern. Environmental testing and nasal swabs of this section of the Hart Building show no further exposure, beyond what we already know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Now, Senator Daschle says they are looking at the best way to remediate or decontaminate all of the hot spots in the Hart Building, behind me here, but he says it may take some time. The suspicion is that it would be open next week at the earliest, Paula, and perhaps even longer than that before this building reopens -- back to you.

ZAHN: Wow! OK, thanks, Kate.

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