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American Morning

Iowa Lab Destroyed Its Anthrax Sample

Aired November 09, 2001 - 10:24   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: One of the things that focused this issue quite clearly was the anthrax scare, an obvious threat to Homeland Security. Susan Candiotti, watching that investigation. New stuff to chew on again this morning. Susan, we are finding out more things behind the scenes now. What do we know?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. Well, the FBI, struggling to solve who is behind the anthrax cases, 17 confirmed infections since last month, are expected to provide new details later today on its investigation. All this as at least one lab says, it destroyed its anthrax sample.

Iowa State University confirms it destroyed its single sample of anthrax back on October 12th. This is a sample that dated back to the 1920s. In part, the university says, because it was concerned about all the attention being paid to anthrax. Officials there say once the anthrax cases started showing up, and the FBI confirmed the strain of anthrax involved was identified as the Iowa strain, named after its discovery by scientists in Iowa, the governor of that state ordered extra secury -- security at all state labs.

Now, at Iowa State University Veterinary lab, one state trooper provided protection. And officials at the university say they decided to therefore get rid of its sole sample because it was concerned about security. We are told that this sample was autoclaved, in other words heated, and then incinerated. The implications of the destruction of that one sample as far as potential evidentiary value is being debated. Now, Iowa State says it did notify the FBI ahead of time to let them know of its plans and no objection, the university said, was raised.

The FBI continues to be at a dead end as far as finding out who was behind the anthrax and three known letters sent to NBC, to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, and to the "New York Post." The bureau hopes by showing these envelopes and the letters which contain threats, that someone will be able to recognize and identify the handwriting and come up with some new leads. The FBI has said repeatedly it has no evidence whether the anthrax was developed here in the U.S. or overseas, whether it was stolen, who was behind it.

There are at least a hundred labs here in the U.S., that conduct research and many more labs overseas. The FBI has reportedly issued subpoenas to various laboratories to find out who has been vaccinated, however, Iowa State says it has received no subpoena. As far as it knows, the college says none of its researches has been vaccinated for anthrax.

The FBI, for the longest time, Bill, has said that it has been on a learning curve as far as this anthrax investigation is involved. And so far, they're able to come up with no solid evidence about where this anthrax came from. Back to you.

HEMMER: All right, Susan. Bottom line, no firm leads just yet. Thanks, Susan. Susan Candiotti in Washington.

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