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CNN Sunday Morning

Environmental Crews Comb Capitol Facilities for Anthrax

Aired October 21, 2001 - 08:31   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: The U.S. Capitol complex remains a focal point in the anthrax investigation. People wearing protective suits worked through the night combing its buildings, including the House chamber, looking for more evidence of anthrax.

CNN's Kathleen Koch joins us now with a live update. Kathleen, what can you tell us?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Jeanne, it was a surreal sight, indeed, here last night, as environmental crews began basically a top-to-bottom sweep of the chambers of the U.S. House of Representatives. That comes in reaction to the discovery Saturday of anthrax in the mail room of a building that handles mail for the House.

Also yesterday, anthrax was found in an off-site screening facility, mail screening facility, run by the Capitol Hill police. This brings to four, the number of sites on and around Capitol Hill where anthrax has been discovered. Of course, the other two being the office Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle in the Hart building and then the Senate mail room in the Dirksen building.

House officials say that they believe that the mail that was in the machine, that went through the machine in the Ford building, where the anthrax was discovered yesterday, was destined for the Longworth House office building. At this point, no anthrax spores have been discovered in that building.

And Capitol Hill police are doing their very best to allay the fears of the people who work here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. DAN NICHOLS, U.S. CAPITOL POLICE: We have the best in the world working on this, as far as environmental services go, as far as health care services go. I've been in these meetings and I've watched these people operate and cooperate and discuss this information. And I'm extremely comfortable with how this is being handled. You know, I'm employee up here also. And I'm very confident that my health is OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Nichols says that arrangements are now being made to take nasal swabs from any of the workers in the Ford building, to see if they were exposed at all to any of the anthrax spores. And at this point, plans are for Capitol Hill to be up and running again on Tuesday, where they are though, Jeanne, considering some alternative sites, just in case further anthrax spores are found on the House side and some of those buildings may not be able to be used -- Jeanne.

MESERVE: Kathleen Koch on Capitol Hill with the very latest, thanks.

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