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CNN Saturday Morning News

Traces of Anthrax Found in Longworth House Office Building

Aired October 27, 2001 - 09:01   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: For the latest on the anthrax investigation in Washington, we turn now to CNN's Rhonda Rowland. She joins us live from Capitol Hill -- Rhonda.

RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Martin.

As we were just mentioning, investigators have announced they have found anthrax in yet another building here in Washington, this time in the Longworth House Office Building, which is right behind me. It's just south of the Capitol. And again they have found it in just three offices within this building. This particular building has been closed ever since the Daschle letter was found.

But with this latest finding, this now brings to a total of 11 the number of buildings here in Washington where anthrax has been found. Those buildings include Senate office buildings, postal facilities, mail rooms for the CIA, State Department, Walter Reed Army Institute.

Officials stress that in the Longworth Building here, the amount of anthrax that was found was very low. They have found just trace amounts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. DAN NICHOLS, U.S. CAPITOL POLICE: Tonight we've had the results back from some of the samples that we've taken from the Longworth House Office Building. After further analysis, we've determined that we have three locations within the Longworth House Office Building thus far which have tested positive for anthrax bacteria.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROWLAND: The U.S. Capitol physician said they'll now begin the process of identifying those individuals who are in or around those particular offices so that they can begin appropriate treatment with antibiotics. But again, they stress, because just trace amounts were found, the actual risk of disease, of illness, is very, very low -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: All right, Rhonda Rowland, joining us from Capitol Hill. Thank you very much.

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