— An NBC News employee has tested positive for anthrax after handling “suspicious mail” that was sent to NBC’s New York headquarters, network officials said Friday. The case of “cutaneous anthrax” — which is contracted through the skin rather than by breathing — is being investigated by the FBI and federal and local health officials, the network said.
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NBC officials confirmed Friday that an NBC News employee at the network’s Rockefeller Plaza headquarters in Midtown Manhattan has tested positive for a skin anthrax infection.
The employee, a woman, is in good condition and expected to recover, NBC executives said.
“Today we learned that one of our employees at 30 Rockefeller Center has tested positive for the cutaneous (skin) anthrax infection,” said a note to NBC employees from NBC chairman Bob Wright and NBC president Andy Lack.
“It is important to note that this is not the same respiratory anthrax that has been reported in the news. Obviously, we are concerned for the employee’s well-being. She has received treatment and is responding well. She is in no danger, and she should recover fully and completely. The Department of Health is coordinating her ongoing care.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FBI, and the New York City Health Department are investigating.
Cutaneous anthrax is not as serious as inhalation anthrax, which brings bacteria spores directly into the lungs.
Lack and Wright said that “suspicious mail” initially tested negative, but a test on the employee came back on Friday.
The executives said NBC had tightened security and was in the process of setting up an information center for employees.