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Anthrax scare grips Delhi
Hospitals on high alert
Tribune News Service and PTI

New Delhi, October 19
Anthrax scare gripped the Capital today as five envelopes suspected of containing anthrax spores were received at various places, even as the authorities maintained that the situation was under control and they were geared up to meet any eventuality.

The envelopes were received in the busiest areas of the Capital like Mayur Vihar, Bikaji Cama Place, Chanakyapuri and East of Kailash. The envelopes that carried the white powder like material were reportedly posted from Singapore.

These were sent to National Institute of Communicable Diseases. Health Ministry sources said tests conducted on these samples had shown negative results.

The observations made by the investigating team have also not indicated any hostile acts of planting of pathogenic organisms, they said, adding that there was no reason for undue panic.

Union Health Minister C.P. Thakur told newspersons that hospitals across the country had been put on high alert and there were enough antibiotics to meet the needs of anthrax patients.

He said no positive case had come to light so far and adequate measures were being taken. He said the NICD had been made the nodal agency to coordinate in combating the biological threat.

The minister also said, that an expert group would meet in the Capital later this month to formulate the strategy and coordinate between different agencies, including the postal department. The group would also discuss about other biological agents — small pox and bubonic plague — which could be used by terrorists.

The government today issued instructions to post offices across the country on the precautions that need to be taken over handling international mails as they could contain anthrax bacteria. The Department of Posts has also issued instructions to all post offices, especially those handling international mail, to sift suspicious looking posts and parcels to check any spread of anthrax virus.

The Centre has sent a team to Gwalior for specialised training in handling anthrax cases. The 10-member doctors team will arrive in the Capital in the next few days and will train other members of the medical fraternity and hospital to deal with the situation. Three hospitals — Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital and Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital — have been identified in the Capital to deal with the anthrax cases in Delhi.