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American Morning

CDC Investigates Florida Anthrax Case

Aired October 10, 2001 - 09:11   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: There are some new developments in the investigation of that anthrax death in Florida. We have two correspondents on story, our medical correspondent Rhonda Rowland, who is standing by at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta, and also, from the Emergency Operations Center in West Palm Beach, Mark Potter.

We will start with you this morning, Mark. Good morning.

MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

While investigators are still looking into the anthrax organism found in Florida, CNN has learned from sources that they now believe that the organism found here may -- and I stress "may" -- match anthrax that was manufactured in a laboratory in Iowa in the 1950s. That lab has not been identified. The sources say that that anthrax was manufactured for research and may have been widely distributed, over the years, for that purpose. If that is true, it would mean that the anthrax found here in Florida did not come from natural sources -- it was not of a natural origin -- and that would more clearly define the investigation here as a criminal case. Already, the FBI is the lead agency here.

But again, officials warn that these tests are complex. They are still under way, and they may or may not exactly pinpoint from where the anthrax came.

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DR. STEVE WIERSMA, STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST: It is possible it may give us some clues to its origin. So we can't really predict how much information we will gain. Again, there is very little variability with the strain. There are only two laboratories in the entire United States that do this kind of analysis, and they compared to all known strains and can give limited information on what that means.

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Meanwhile, investigators today are expected to continue their work in Boca Raton inside the headquarters of American Media Incorporated, the tabloid publishing company. There they have been gathering swabs and samples from building, trying to determine how and where anthrax came to be inside that facility. A trace element of anthrax was found on a computer keyboard in a work space. A photographer at that building, 63-year-old Robert Stevens, died last week from anthrax. It was on his keyboard that they found that anthrax strain. Another man, 73-year-old Ernesto Blanco, who worked in mail room was exposed to the disease, but so far appears not to have been infected by it.

Now, yesterday, health officials said at the home of Robert Stevens, the man who died, where they took samples last week, they have now determined by lab tests that there are no trace of anthrax and that his family no longer has to take antibiotics.

Paula, back to you.

ZAHN: Let's go back to Rhonda Rowland, who is standing by, to give us a better sense of what the CDC is telling American families about how they are supposed to get prepared for a potential attack.

Good morning again.

RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

As far as preparedness, the CDC is saying that people should not hoarding antibiotics or gas masks.

But also here at the CDC we are starting to piece together how this anthrax outbreak was first identified. When understand that it was first picked up in a Florida state laboratory, by a lab technician, last Wednesday, who was doing testing on blood samples from the first patient. They picked it up.

And it is interesting to know that this Florida laboratory is one of 50 that is being trained by the CDC to pick up these biological agents. In fact, this laboratory was only recently trained in picking up anthrax. So last Wednesday night, the Florida Department of Health contacted the CDC. Here, by Thursday morning, more samples from the patient were being tested here in the biosafety level four laboratory, where they test contagious and dangerous elements, yet the CDC was very confident in the Florida results.

So by 2:00 on Thursday, less than 24 hours after they were notified, a team of 15 disease detectives went down to Florida, along with this supply of antibiotics. In this team, there were epidemiologists, lab technicians, experts who know how to set up clinics and run through 700 people, to get them tested very quickly.

Also, we understand that the CDC, here in Atlanta, is testing some of the environmental samples of anthrax. And again, all this detective work is being done to try to find out exactly when the exposure occurred, how extensive the exposure was, and at same time, the CDC is trying to contain the outbreak, to try to prevent others from getting sick -- Paula.

ZAHN: Rhonda, thanks so much. We look forward to talking with you throughout the morning.

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