Governor issues anthrax alert for Reno

Jace Radke

Friday, Oct. 12, 2001 | 4:24 a.m.

State health officials are analyzing a letter addressed to a Reno business that has tested presumptively positive for anthrax, a spokesman for Gov. Kenny Guinn's office said.

Additional testing to confirm the presence of anthrax is expected to be completed by Saturday.

Guinn said that the state's emergency management system worked well in getting the letter sealed, and that the employees at the company where the letter was sent followed recommended emergency procedures.

Guinn's press secretary, Greg Bortolin, didn't immediately identify the company that received the letter.

Guinn is advising all Nevadans that letters without return addresses, empty envelopes and powdery substances should raise suspicions. These kinds of items should be placed in a sealed bag or container and handed over to authorities. Anyone coming in contact with these types of mail should wash their hands and contact local public health officials.

"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."

Anthrax is a disease caused by bacteria that can be inhaled, ingested or introduced into an open cut. Anthrax is generally treatable with antibiotics and cannot be spread from person-to-person.

On Oct. 5, a photo editor for The Sun supermarket tabloid in Boca Raton, Fla., died of the more serious inhaled form of anthrax. The American Media building where Bob Stevens, 63, worked has been sealed off after anthrax was found on his computer keyboard.

Traces of anthrax were later found in the building's mailroom, and two other employees turned out to have anthrax in their nasal passages. Neither has developed the disease and both are taking antibiotics.

An assistant to NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw has contracted the skin form of anthrax after opening an envelope that contained powder that was sent to her boss two weeks ago. The powder in the envelope is being analyzed, but the Centers for Disease Control says it's possible that the NBC employee was contaminated by something other than the envelope.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.