Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Anthrax Bacteria Found at Fourth Capitol Hill Site

Aired October 21, 2001 - 07:04   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.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the anthrax investigation here in the United States. Officials say the bacteria has turned up at a fourth site on Capitol Hill. Environmental crews have been sweeping the chambers of the House of Representatives overnight; that's after investigators found anthrax in the mail room of the Ford House Office Building.

CNN congressional correspondent Kate Snow brings us up to date.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Evidence of anthrax spores in the Ford House Office Building -- mail addressed to members of the U.S. House is sent there. Traces of anthrax were found on a machine that bundles mail bound for the nearby Longworth Building.

Fifteen blocks south, the off-site delivery center also tested positive for the presence of anthrax. Anything being sent to Capitol Hill must pass through here first, including the mail.

LT. DAN NICHOLS, U.S. CAPITOL POLICE: This is a developing investigation, and we don't know if there's another letter, and it's something we're looking into, or this is possibly a cross- contamination with the letter that was received by Senator Daschle.

SNOW: On Monday a letter containing anthrax was opened in Senator Daschle's office in the Hart Building. That area and the Senate mail room in the Dirksen Building next door tested positive. But Saturday's news marks the first positive results for a building on the House side of Capitol Hill.

NICHOLS: It's important to realize that this was not an unexpected situation. We've been trailing the mail through the Capitol complex now for quite some time.

SNOW: And the trail may lead backwards to another facility. Any mail addressed to the U.S. Capitol originates from a central Washington, D.C. post office, Brentwood. D.C. officials say a man who works there is in the hospital.

DR. IVAN WALKS, D.C. HEALTH DEPARTMENT: This is the first person that has been reported to us whose clinical picture also makes us concerned. And I think that's what a lot of you have heard, is that this person's clinical picture makes us suspicious.

SNOW: The news of more contamination on Capitol Hill fraying the nerves of already jittery staffers, still receiving their own test results. So far the number of people exposed remains at 28. Congress determined to get back to work.

(on camera): Environmental surveys will continue just as a precaution. One senior Republican aide says the goal, to make sure everything is clean and ready for business when House members intend to get back to work on Tuesday.

Kate Snow, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com