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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 10:27 a.m., Friday, November 2, 2001

Anthrax scare closes Maui school

Advertiser Staff

Lokelani Intermediate School in Kihei, Maui, was closed today after a counselor came down with flu-like symptoms several days after receiving a letter from an educational-materials publisher from Washington, D.C.

A Maui Department of Fire Control hazardous materials crew took samples from the man's desk and work area yesterday before decontaminating the office. The samples were sent to Honolulu for testing.

Maui Police Department Lt. Bill Fernandez said investigators are waiting for results of a blood test conducted by the counselor's physician.

"We're not too concerned unless we get a positive result,'' Fernandez said. "The investigation shows others came in contact with the same letter, and they aren't sick.''