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CNN Saturday Morning News

Two Anthrax Infections Confirmed Friday

Aired October 20, 2001 - 08:18   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: In the nation's anthrax scare, dozens of people have been exposed to the bacteria. Now it appears the threat is moving beyond U.S. borders.

In Argentina, officials say a letter sent to a Buenos Aires family from the United States has tested positive for anthrax. The nation's health minister says the letter was sent from Miami with a return address for Carnival Cruise Lines.

Meanwhile, final tests on a Northwest flight from Detroit to Vermont have come back negative for anthrax. A white powdery substance was found on board this week. It was feared to be the bacteria.

Two new anthrax cases have been confirmed on the East Coast, a postal worker in New Jersey and a "New York Post" employee in New York City. Investigators are working to track down the source in both of those cases.

With the latest, CNN's Brian Palmer, live now from Trenton, New Jersey -- Brian.

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Martin.

Yes, indeed, two cases of cutaneous anthrax were confirmed yesterday. The "New York Post" editorial assistant that you referred to and a 35-year-old mail sorter at a Hamilton Township processing and distribution center for Trenton, New Jersey.

Now, we're in Ewing Township this morning. A letter carrier in this post office was one of the first identified, was the first identified in this area. She also contracted cutaneous anthrax. Again, this is the least serious form of the disease.

Last night investigators donned hazardous material suits, and we're talking FBI, U.S. Postal inspectors and New Jersey State Police. They investigated this facility, checking for traces of anthrax.

Yesterday, federal and state investigators fanned out throughout or across this letter carrier's route. She handled about 250 homes and businesses in this area. Apparently she didn't deal with the actual collection boxes on the street. But the FBI says they're checking everything and that investigation continues. They're interviewing people in the neighborhoods. Now, there has been some discussion about a sorting bin that was discovered where one of these anthrax tainted letters may have passed through. We confirmed that with the FBI, but they're not telling us whether that sorting bin has tested positive for anthrax. So this is a detail. It's not yet a conclusive piece of evidence about anything. The investigation is ongoing.

The United States postal inspectors would not really speak definitively about the details of the investigation to us other than to say they're reviewing videotapes taken from the inside and outside, the 46 different stations and post offices in the area. They're also saying that they're following leads. They are, they're talking to people in the area.

Now, the inspector, Tony Esposito, also told us -- excuse me -- also told us that yesterday alone, nationwide there were 600 incidents, that they responded to 600 incidents of suspicious mail. So they're taking this very, very seriously, so seriously that they've arrested three people for anthrax related hoaxes in New Jersey, Delaware and Oregon -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: CNN's Brian Palmer joining us from Trenton, New Jersey, thank you very much.

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