IP: how not to handle a crisis part 2!

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> From: "Mark White" <mark_white () eglobal net>
> To: "'David Farber'" <dave () farber net>
>
>
> Positive anthrax test rattles Honolulu
> http://www.unitedstates.com/news/farticle/617354?20011023212955
>
>    HONOLULU, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- A resume mailed from Saudi Arabia to a
> Honolulu architectural
> firm was rushed to a Navy laboratory for testing Tuesday after an
> initial inspection
> by firefighters revealed the possibility it was contaminated with
> anthrax.
>    It appeared late Tuesday, however, that the envelope mailed to Group
> 70 International
> did not contain the anthrax bacteria that has been responsible for three
> deaths on
> the mainland despite positive results in two of the three field tests
> conducted by
> city firefighters.
>    The Honolulu Star-Bulletin said the fire department announced late
> Tuesday that
> anthrax tests conducted at a laboratory at Pearl Harbor proved negative.
>
>    "The only lab that can confirm this with any kind of credibility is
> the Navy lab;
> those machines that the city have an error margin that is much too high
> for me, they
> are not that reliable," Gov. Ben Cayetano told the Star-Bulletin.
>    Cayetano said the testing equipment had been delivered to the fire
> department just
> a few weeks ago.
>    Nevertheless, the possibility that anthrax had struck the islands
> caused the closure
> of a number of downtown streets and warnings to the public from city
> hall.
>    The Honolulu Star-Bulletin said Mayor Jeremy Harris' office announced
> shortly before
> noon that: "Everyone in the city is to stop opening mail immediately.
> There is a positive
> identification of anthrax in the downtown area."
>    A follow-up news release issued at 12:05 p.m. said there were
> "conflicting reports."
>    "Please use your discretion as to whether or not to open your mail at
> this time,"
> the announcement said.
>    Although no white powder was found in the envelope, employees at
> Group 70 International
> called the fire department after becoming suspicious about the "gritty"
> texture of
> the paper, according to Mayor Harris.
>    Group 70 International is one of Hawaii's largest architectural firms
> and has designed
> shopping centers and hotels in Hawaii and in other parts of the world,
> including a
> luxury hotel in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Mark White
> Manager - Corporate Communications
> eGlobal International
> t: +61 7 3369 5208
> f: +61 7 3369 3044
> m: 0407 134 534
> e: mark_white () eglobal net
> w: www.eglobal.net
>
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