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Breaking News

Field Test Finds Anthrax at Federal Reserve Mail Facility

Aired May 09, 2002 - 12:04   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to bring you news we're getting through The Associated Press. The indication to the AP is that a preliminary field test of about 20 pieces of mail -- this at an off-site Federal Reserve mail facility -- tested positive for Anthrax. This according to the AP and a government official quoted in this piece here.

The official, on condition of anonymity, says investigators suspect the test was incorrect because the mail, they say, was standard, commercial and business mail. The working theory, according to this piece here, is that the test is either incorrect or Anthrax was left behind in a sorting bin after the breakout of Anthrax last fall. Again, this word just coming out right now through Washington, and we'll track it certainly and let you know what we find out.

Traces of Anthrax found. Whether it is new or dating back to last fall, still is a wide open issue, and that could be a substantial difference in that story. We'll track it for you.

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