DATE=10/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240972
TITLE= INDIANA ANTHRAX (S-ONLY)
BYLINE= MICHAEL LELAND
DATELINE= CHICAGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  MORE THAN 20 PEOPLE AT A HEALTH CLINIC IN THE MIDWEST U-S
CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS WERE TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL FRIDAY AFTER THE 
CLINIC RECEIVED A LETTER CLAIMING TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH 
ANTHRAX, A POTENTIALLY DEADLY BACTERIAL DISEASE.  MORE FROM 
V-O-A'S MICHAEL LELAND.

TEXT:  THE LETTER ARRIVED AT THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINIC FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.  EIGHTEEN CLINIC EMPLOYEES, TWO POLICE OFFICERS AND A 
POSTAL CARRIER WERE DECONTAMINATED -- SCRUBBED DOWN WITH 
ANTI-BACTERIAL AGENTS -- IN A TENT OUTSIDE THE CLINIC, AND TAKEN 
TO A HOSPITAL AS A PRECAUTION.  

THE LETTER WAS MAILED FROM (THE CITY OF) CINCINNATI, ABOUT 160 
KILOMETERS AWAY.  IT CLAIMED TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH ANTHRAX, 
THOUGH OFFICIALS HAD  NOT  DETERMINED FRIDAY EVENING WHETHER IT 
ACTUALLY WAS.

ANTHRAX IS AN INFECTIOUS BACTERIAL DISEASE THAT USUALLY AFFECTS 
CATTLE AND SHEEP BUT CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS.  PEOPLE CAN BE
INFECTED BY INHALING THE BACTERIA.  SYMPTOMS DEVELOP WITHIN A 
WEEK AFTER EXPOSURE.  

THE INDIANAPOLIS CLINIC WAS ONE OF AT LEAST FOUR IN THE UNITED 
STATES RECEIVING SIMILAR LETTERS ON FRIDAY.  POLICE SAY THEY ARE 
NOT  SURE WHETHER THE LETTERS ARE MEANT TO BE A FORM OF ABORTION 
PROTEST, BUT THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ABORTION AND 
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ACTION LEAGUE IS ALREADY CALLING THE 
INCIDENTS "DOMESTIC TERRORISM."   (SIGNED)

NEB/MJL/WTW

30-Oct-98 6:29 PM EST (2329 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.