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American Morning

Anthrax Scare: Anthrax Cases Putting Nation on High Alert

Aired October 16, 2001 - 11:20   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: As mentioned, an anthrax case has been confirmed at ABC News. A baby who spent time in the newsroom there in New York late in September has this skin form of anthrax. That source unknown at this time. Also an NBC News employee contracted anthrax after she opened a letter addressed to the anchor, Tom Brokaw there. Also an anthrax-laden letter appeal to Daschle's office Capitol Hill, and in South Florida, two employees of tabloid publisher American Media have been diagnosed with inhalation anthrax. One, so far, has died.

Again. though anthrax confirmed about 60 minutes ago on Capitol Hill after further testing was done. Now it is being said and done today.

We begin with CNN congressional correspondent Jonathan Karl with more on this front.

Jonathan, good morning.

JONATHAN KARL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, we do have two new developments. First, is that there is further evidence multiple sources familiar with investigation tell CNN of a direct link between the letter sent to Tom Daschle here on Capitol Hill, and the letter sent to Tom Brokaw NBC in New York. We know already that the two share the same postmark Trenton, New Jersey. We now learn that investigators believe the two letters have the same handwriting. This development has led them to believe that there is a direct link perhaps coming from the same source, the two letters containing anthrax.

And then secondly, another major development here, the lab tests that came back of the substance found in letter sent to Tom Daschle's office showed that the anthrax was an especially pure form of anthrax. In the words of those familiar with this investigation, it was not amateurish, seemed to be a professional grade anthrax, of especially high purity and potency. This all led to extraordinary security measures taken here an Capitol.

Right outside of the Hart building where all this is happening, here's CNN's Kate Snow with details on those steps -- Kate.

KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, Senator Tom Daschle's personal office is inside the building that you see behind me, the Hart office building. We are two blocks away from U.S. capitol. There are 12 Senate offices in this building right now, one corner of building cordoned off. They are closed down, because they are so close to Senator Daschle's office, arrangements being made. One purely as a precaution to put all of those staffers out of the offices to make sure that they are not exposed, because there was some concern that perhaps this anthrax laden letter perhaps this could have gotten into ventilation system.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. DAN NICHOLS, CAPITOL POLICE: We don't think it came into ventilation system. What we want to do is make sure that it did not. And we are going to err on side of caution on this. And this is a precautionary measure are going to find. We are going to take extraordinary measures to ensure the safety security of the congressional community during this time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Hundreds of people inside waiting in line to be tested for anthrax. They are getting nose swabs taken from them. Antibiotics also distributed. Again, purely a precaution.

I spoke with Senator Sam Brownback a few moments ago, and he stressed that point, that this is all just a preventative measure. He said we can't let the terrorists win. What they want is to spread fear. We can't let that fear prevail.

Back to you.

HEMMER: All right, Kate, thanks, Jonathan also. We'll see how it goes to the day, if indeed that investigation can be moved forward and concluded sometime very soon.

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Let's move to South Florida and the anthrax scare at the tabloid publisher American Media. That's where CNN's John Zarrella is joining us in Boca Raton for the very latest from there.

Hello, John.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Catharine.

Of course, as everyone knows, this is where the anthrax scare first began a couple weeks ago, and in response to what really has become heightened concern here in South Florida -- the governor, Jeb Bush, is planning to make a visit down here to Boca Raton, Florida later this afternoon. Not far from here, he will be meeting with local state and federal health workers health officials, and also, holding a news conference, where he plans to, as we understand, discuss some very, very tough antiterrorism laws that are on the books here in Florida that were passed over a year ago.

Now, a short while ago I had an opportunity to talk with the -- Boca's mayor, and he expressed his thanks that governor was here the importance of the governor's visit to Boca.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MYR. STEVE ABRAMS, BOCA RATON, FLORIDA: This has been the first city in the country that has experienced a bioterrorism attack, and I want them to see firsthand that our community is safe, and hopefully he will help me to get the message out, that the incident that occurred across the street was directed at one company, and our community is safe, and it was directed at Boca Raton.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: Of course the heightened coming again after the latest developments yesterday, where Ernesto Blanco, who was the mailroom employee who has worked here at American Media, has been in a hospital in South Florida a couple weeks now. Federal health officials, doctors down at Cedars Hospital saying now that, in fact, he does have anthrax, and not just exposure to anthrax, which was the initial diagnosis. Doctors saying it was very difficult to diagnosis in this particular case. It was atypical of the way it came about, but in fact he does have it. He is in intensive care again at Cedars Hospital.

What's significant also about Ernesto Blanco's coming down with it is he picked up the mail at the local post office here in Boca, and at that post office is where is some very minute amounts particles of anthrax were found yesterday. The Environmental Protection Agency went through there last night and decontaminated the facility. It was really a processing area. It really wasn't a place where the public would be, and it was open again for business this morning. They said it was very minor cleanup job. There were just a few isolated areas where spores of anthrax were.

So again, the big story today is still awaiting test results here on some of the workers, waiting some environmental sample results, but the big story will be Florida's governor coming to visit, and some of the words that he will have for local officials here, and perhaps members of the public.

This John Zarrella, reporting live from Boca Raton, Florida.

ZARRELLA: Thank you, John.

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