Anthrax scare at Indian Consulate

NEW YORK, OCT. 31. Two employees of the Indian Consulate here were put on anti-anthrax drug after they handled a letter containing a white powder in the mail room even as security was beefed up and employees advised to take precautionary measures.

The two employees, Ms. Jaishri and Ms. Uma Prakashswamy, were examined at the Leonx Hill Hospital in Manhattan. The powder hit the former's face and hands when she opened an envelope on Monday evening. Ms. Uma, who had gone to see what had happened, also came in contact with the powder, sources said.

The mailroom was sealed after local authorities took samples of the powder for examination.

There was concern over the incident but no panic, the Consul- General said adding that the Consulate worked normally on Tuesday. AFP reports from Washington: Traces of anthrax were also found at a mailroom servicing the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Office in Washington. The office receives its mail from the capital's Brentwood sorting office, where two workers had died from anthrax.

PTI reports from Islamabad:

The anthrax scare hit the U.S. Embassy here with one of the women staff rushed to hospital after she opened an envelope containing some powder. She washed off the powder before being taken for tests. She was later shifted to her residence after her condition was found to be normal, The News, said. However, the room where the letter was opened was closed for investigations and samples of the powder sent for tests.

Scare at Tripura CM's office

PTI reports from Agartala:

The office of the Tripura Chief Minister, Mr. Manik Sarkar, here received an envelope on Tuesday containing white powder raising fears that it contained anthrax spores.

The police were immediately informed and they took away the envelope and kept it in a container. The West Tripura SP, Mr. Anurag Dhyankar, told newsmen that scientists of the State Animal Resource Department, after examination, found that it was talcum powder and not anthrax.

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