Military

DATE=10/13/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=US / ANTHRAX (L)

NUMBER=2-281774

BYLINE=STEPHANIE MANN

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

///EDS: REPLACES CR 2-281771 WITH UPDATED INTRO, TEXT. VOICE IN DALET REFLECTS CHANGE IN TEXT///

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S officials are investigating several cases of suspicious powder and testing them for the possible presence of anthrax bacteria. Some tests are proving negative, but at least two new findings of the anthrax bacteria have been made. Officials in New York and Nevada offered new information on those cases today (Saturday), and a spokesman for a publishing company in Boca Raton, Florida -- where three workers contracted the inhaled form of anthrax - said five more of its employees were found to have been exposed to anthrax bacteria. V-O-A's Stephanie Mann has more on what has become a nationwide anthrax scare.

TEXT: New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani told reporters a letter sent September 18th from New Jersey to N-B-C anchorman Tom Brokaw has tested positive for anthrax. He says that is the letter that infected Mr. Brokaw's assistant. The woman contracted anthrax through a cut in her skin. She is being treated with antibiotics and is expected to recover.

The F-B-I chief in New York, Barry Mawn, says investigators had thought a letter sent September 25th caused the infection. Officials were following up on that Friday when the second, earlier letter was discovered.

/// MAWN ACT ///

During the course of that, we were provided information for the first time that there was another letter, threatening in nature. We retrieved that letter, and that's the one that we're speaking about.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Mawn says that letter contained an unspecified threat and a brown granular substance.

The N-B-C employee is the fourth confirmed case of anthrax in the United States.

Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn said (Saturday) a letter sent from Malaysia to a Microsoft office in Reno has tested positive for traces of anthrax. But he says there are no known cases of infection stemming from that letter, adding it is not yet known if the strain is one that causes a threat to people's health.

New York Mayor Giuliani says Americans have learned a lot about anthrax in recent days. But he cautioned people not to panic about the outbreaks.

/// GIULIANI ACT ///

It is not contagious. It can be treated and cured. The reality is the treatment for it that exists is effective. So people shouldn't be overwrought about it or nervous about it. It is something that can be dealt with.

/// END ACT ///

Meanwhile, a powder in an envelope sent to a New York Times reporter has tested negative for anthrax. And the Federal Aviation Administration grounded a domestic flight (Saturday) after an unidentified powder was found on board. It was later determined to be non-toxic. (Signed)

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