Posted on 11/02/2001 6:54:20 AM PST by grimalkin
Suspicious powder in an envelope received at the office of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal last week has been tested positive for Anthrax spores, it was officially stated here today.
It was the first positive anthrax by mail result since the scare broke in India after more than 200 cases of envelopes laced with suspicious powder were reported in various parts of the country since anthrax spores were detected in the US.
(PTI) 19:55 IST
MUMBAI: Suspicious powder in an envelope received at the office of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal last week has been tested positive for anthrax spores, it was officially stated here on Friday.
It was the first positive anthrax by mail result since the scare broke in India after more than 200 cases of envelopes laced with suspicious powder were reported in various parts of the country since anthrax spores were detected in the US.
"Out of four samples referred to molecular diagnostics and reasearch centre, in neighbouring Thane district, one showed undisputed evidence of presence of anthrax bacilli," the director general of state health services Dr Subhash Salunke told reporters here on Friday.
However, repeated efforts to culture anthrax germs by conventional methods at Haffkine Institute, the state-owned microbiology lab, have not shown any such growth, he said.
Salunke said that there was no need to panic as the growth of organisms from suspicious samples is extremely slow or negative.
Bhujbal, who also holds home portfolio, confirmed the reports of Thane laboratory and stated that the powder would be sent for further examination to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory at Gwalior.
The results from the Gwalior lab would be available in another 48 hours, official sources said.
Six employees of Bhujbal's office, who were exposed to the suspicious powder, were reported to be alright.
Anthrax scare had gripped the state secretariat on October 24 after envelopes containing suspicious powdery material were received by the offices of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Bhujbal. ( PTI )
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