CDC retesting Reno sample

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001 | 9:59 a.m.

Despite a positive finding by the state, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has not found anthrax in the contents of a mailing received by Microsoft workers in Reno.

A third and final test by the CDC to determine if the envelope and its contents is contaminated with bacteria is under way, a CDC spokeswoman said today.

The state laboratory Oct. 10 identified rod-shaped bacteria, known as bacillus, a possible indication of anthrax, on one of five pornographic pictures in an envelope delivered to the Reno Microsoft office from Malasia, state epidemiologist Dr. Randall Todd said.

A second test showed that the bacteria was not anthrax, Gov. Kenny Guinn announced late Friday.

A third state laboratory analysis, however, indicated that the cells were anthrax, which the governor announced at noon Saturday.

State health officials shipped two bacteria samples in water to CDC in Atlanta, Todd said.

"We went ahead and took precautions to protect the employees who may have been exposed," Todd said. "At this time the final test results are not complete."

Statewide, 36 calls about suspicious envelopes or packages possibly containing anthrax have been received, according to the Nevada Emergency Operations Center.

In Las Vegas, 31 calls have been received since Friday.

If a sample is collected by the Clark County Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Team, either scientists at the state laboratory or laboratories at University Medical Center or American Medical Laboratory conduct the necessary analysis.

So far, none of the samples tested from Southern Nevada, including some grainy substance from Opportunity Village, have indicated anthrax.