Authorities say second Anthrax test negative

Cy Ryan and Mary Manning

Friday, Oct. 12, 2001 | 8:43 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Health Laboratory is testing a suspicious substance that may be Anthrax received in a letter by a Reno business.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said Friday the contents of the letter tested "presumptively positive" in one of three tests for Anthrax. A second sample tested negative. A third test must be conducted to confirm the diagnosis.

Results from the final test should be completed by Saturday, Guinn said.

The state Health Division referred all inquiries to the governor's office. Guinn has also notified the FBI.

The governor said a man who works at a Microsoft office in the Sierra Pacific Power Company building in Reno paid a bill and mailed the check to Malaysia. But the letter came back with the check and also enclosed was some pornographic literature, apparently with the strange powder on it.

"This guy did the right thing," Guinn said, referring to the man's notification of authorities.

No one at the company has displayed symptoms of anthrax. If the third test is positive for the bacteria, health officials would begin testing people.

The Washoe County Health District has also been brought into the case, the governor said.

The first test of the substance showed the presence of the bacteria "Bacillus anthracis."

Guinn stressed that if health officials confirm that the third sample is anthrax, human testing would begin.

"As the governor, I'm pleased to report that our state emergency management system in placed worked very well," Guinn said. "The employees in this case also followed the recommended emergency procedures.

"This is a national issue that involves law enforcement at all levels," Guinn said. "The FBI has kept me well informed as these situations have evolved."

The governor advised Nevadans to continue to be ever vigilant in this time of heightened security.

There are three ways to contract anthrax, by inhaling it, ingesting it or through a cut on the skin. Anthrax, if inhaled, may begin with a mild flu-like symptom such as muscle aches, fever, fatigue and slight cough usually one to six days after exposure.

It may then progress after two to four days to more severe symptoms such as high fever and shortness of breath. It is generally treatable with antibiotics and cannot be spread from person to person.