ISLAMABAD, 1 November — Anthrax, the disease that has caused worldwide scare, knocked at the doors of the US ambassador in Islamabad yesterday, reports here said.
The daily Qaumi Akhbar reported that an envelope, containing white substance, addressed to Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin, was opened by her secretary, who was later sent to a hospital and put under observation for 48 hours.
The embassy said that the white powder was being tested to determine if it held anthrax, an embassy spokesman said yesterday. “I can confirm that an employee opened a letter containing white powder,” John Kincannon said. “There is no evidence, so far, that the employee has been affected (by anthrax).”
He said a sample of the powder had been sent for a laboratory test and the result was not yet known.
It was the second scare in Pakistan since Sept. 11 attacks in the United States and an anthrax outbreak spread by letters in the US mail set off fears of bioterrorism.
