Military

DATE=10/16/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS / ANTHRAX (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-281863

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A section of a U-S Senate office building has been closed after tests confirmed that a letter opened in the office of Majority Leader Tom Daschle contained the potentially deadly anthrax bacteria. V-O-A Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

TEXT: Capitol police spokesman Dan Nichols says part of the Hart Senate office building has been closed to make sure no anthrax made its way into the ventilation system.

/// NICHOLS ACTUALITY 1 ///

We need to assure everywhere that what we are doing today in closing down this part of the building, is a precautionary measure, a precautionary measure only. We want to go ahead and do some testing on the ventilation systems on that part of the building. The ventilation system is laid out in the Hart Senate office building to the extent that it serves that part of the building only, and that is where the office of Senator Daschle is located.

/// END ACT ///

Police spokesman Nichols says after two field tests on the suspicious letter to Senator Daschle came back positive for anthrax, a third test conducted at a military base in Maryland confirmed the presence of the bacteria.

/// NICHOLS ACTUALITY 2 ///

U-S Capitol police was notified by Fort Detrich that the substance was in fact anthrax, and that changed the situation somewhat. Now we know we are dealing with an actual anthrax situation.

/// END ACT ///

Senator Daschle was not i n his office at the time a staffer opened the anthrax-laced letter, but about 40 staff members were.

The U-S Capitol's doctor is encouraging anyone who may have been in the area at the time, including police, cleaning crews, and visitors, to be tested for anthrax exposure.

Police spokesman Nichols says mail delivery to lawmakers has been suspended indefinitely.

Public tours of the Capitol have also been halted for the time being. (Signed)

NEB/DAT/JWH