Tests show Reno scare unfounded

Thursday, Oct. 18, 2001 | 9:32 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Test results being reported today are putting to rest the anthrax scare out of Reno that has alarmed Nevadans since Friday.

At a press conference today in Washington, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said the Reno scare appears unfounded.

And Barbara Hunt, Washoe County health officer, said this morning that of 54 nasal swabs tested by the Nevada State Public Health Laboratories in Reno, none indicated contamination from anthrax bacteria.

Nevada officials are still waiting for the final test on a sample sent from Reno on Monday to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The CDC completed two previous state samples on Monday. They both proved negative for anthrax.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said this morning he was expecting to receive the test results from the CDC later today.

"Hopefully, it'll be negative,'" he said. "That's what we're all hoping for."

Guinn said FBI agents asked him to inform them as soon as he gets the results.

An employee of Microsoft in Reno opened an envelope on Oct. 10 that had been mailed from Malaysia. It contained pornographic pictures and the employee became suspicious when it appeared the envelope had been opened and resealed.

Although the envelope appeared to have been damaged by moisture, there was never any grainy substance found, as has been the case in anthrax cases that have panned out. The nasal swabs tested by the state were taken primarily from Microsoft employees who may have had contact with the envelope.

When state health officials first tested the envelope for anthrax, two of the three state laboratory tests indicated anthrax, prompting Guinn to go public with the news on Friday.