Anthrax scare haunts the Postman

By Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

NEW DELHI, OCT. 17. All postal sorting centres across the Capital have been put on high alert following reports of spread of the deadly Anthrax-causing bacteria through mail. Instructions have been issued to the staff to observe guidelines of the Universal Postal Union -- the special agency of the U.N. on all postal matters -- and more ``Do's and Dont's'' are on the way.

At the Palam airport sorting centre for baggage mail as well as the Safdarjang airport centre for open mail, the sorters have been instructed to take special precautions vis-a-vis suspicious -looking packets.

According to Mr.Gautam Gupta, Member (Operations) of the Postal Board, the department is fully seized of the problem and has asked all personnel to remain on alert. Though the threat is from an invisible enemy this time -- unlike in 1972 when the threat of ``letter bombs'' was tackled successfully -- he hopes ways will be found to overcome the challenge.

``There is no need to be scared. Our personnel have been told to take basic precautions by wearing gloves and face-masks and send all suspicious-looking mail for proper examination.'' The National Institute of Communicable Diseases has the wherewithal to deal with the problem.

While the postal department has not stopped receiving or sending any mail, sources say mail bound for the U.S. and some other countries is being closely monitored by intelligence agencies. Likewise, open mail from many countries is being scrutinised.

The authorities have taken serious note of the dozen-odd cases of exposure to Anthrax in the U.S., including one in which a 73- year-old mailroom employee at a Florida publishing firm is reported to have contracted the disease.

With the deadly bacteria already having claimed a life in the U.S., where the spread is being attributed largely to terrorists, several Western countries are using special scanners to detect bacteria in mail. In India, too, experts in the field of ultraviolet radiation are recommending use of UV lamps for detecting powder containing Anthrax spores in mail. The technology, however, is yet to reach the postal sorting centres.

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Section  : Other States
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