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Anthrax case confirmed in Chile
Chile announced what could be the first case of anthrax spores sent through the mail outside the United States, saying that US health testing confirmed the deadly bacteria in a letter sent from Switzerland.
Chile announced what could be the first case of anthrax spores sent through the mail outside the United States, saying that US health testing confirmed the deadly bacteria in a letter sent from Switzerland.
The Chilean health ministry said on Thursday that the US government's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, "have confirmed presence of the anthraces bacillus in envelope received in Chile." Officials at the CDC in Atlanta were unavailable on Thursday.
Pediatrician Dr Antonio Banfi received the letter last week at Calvo Mackenna Children's Hospital in Santiago, and became suspicious because it was postmarked Zurich, but had a return address in Florida, the health ministry said. The cover contained a small amount of white powder as well as papers.
Banfi and 12 others who were nearby when he opened the envelope have not tested positive for exposure to anthrax spores, but have undergone treatment, the ministry said.
If confirmed, this would be the first case of the deadly bacteria in mail outside the United States since tainted letters raised a worldwide bioterrorism alarm in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
There have been false alarms worldwide, including cases in Kenya and the Bahamas in which authorities said they had found dangerous forms of anthrax in mail, but later said further testing found no anthrax. The Chilean health ministry said the CDC tests confirmed those conducted by the Chilean public health institute.
The ministry said it has not been determined whether the anthrax spores found in the letter are the same as those found in US or correspond to a different strain.
Bureau Report
Pediatrician Dr Antonio Banfi received the letter last week at Calvo Mackenna Children's Hospital in Santiago, and became suspicious because it was postmarked Zurich, but had a return address in Florida, the health ministry said. The cover contained a small amount of white powder as well as papers.
Banfi and 12 others who were nearby when he opened the envelope have not tested positive for exposure to anthrax spores, but have undergone treatment, the ministry said.
If confirmed, this would be the first case of the deadly bacteria in mail outside the United States since tainted letters raised a worldwide bioterrorism alarm in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
There have been false alarms worldwide, including cases in Kenya and the Bahamas in which authorities said they had found dangerous forms of anthrax in mail, but later said further testing found no anthrax. The Chilean health ministry said the CDC tests confirmed those conducted by the Chilean public health institute.
The ministry said it has not been determined whether the anthrax spores found in the letter are the same as those found in US or correspond to a different strain.
Bureau Report