NBC tape sent to Giuliani contained anthrax

NEW YORK (CNN) -- New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani confirmed Sunday that a tape sent by NBC News anchorman Tom Brokaw's office to City Hall contained anthrax.

Giuliani said the tape was sent in the first week of October, before Brokaw's assistant tested positive for the cutaneous form of the disease.

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Giuliani said the tape sent by NBC was dropped off at the City Hall police desk, then was picked up by two people, including his chief of staff, Tony Carbonetti.

"Tony handled it, watched it," Giuliani said.

The mayor did not elaborate on what was on the tape, nor did he say why NBC News sent the tape to his office.

After the NBC case was reported, the tape was submitted for testing several times beginning October 23, and final results have turned up positive, he said.

Giuliani said none of the people who handled the tape have shown any symptoms, which usually occur within a week of exposure. No one is being treated with the antibiotic Cipro, he said.

Environmental testing for anthrax at City Hall has already been conducted since the tape was delivered last month, and results have been negative, he said.

But, Giuliani said, "We'll test again and go into more places in more detail."

The matter is still being investigated.

So far, 17 people have been confirmed to be infected with anthrax, with four confirmed deaths from the more serious inhaled form of the disease.