Anthrax scare sweeps U.K.

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, OCT. 17. If it is white, it can't be right. Increasingly, the very sight of a white substance, especially if it is powdery and has come by post, is setting off alarm bells as the anthrax scare spreads across the U.K. The postal staff is all jitters, and the joke in post offices is that all you need to do to get a day off is to wave an envelope at your boss's face, and look sufficiently scared.

On Tuesday, there was panic at the London Stock Exchange after a parcel containing white powder was delivered to its mail room. Within minutes, rescue teams in heavy protective gear arrived on the scene, the place was cleared and cordoned off, and 12 workers who had come into contact with the parcel were taken to hospital. Before that, they were stripped off their clothes, hosed down with water and given decontaminated suits to wear. The anthrax- looking substance, when tested by experts, turned out to be harmless, though nobody could say whether it was a hoax or the staff lost nerve on seeing something white.

A government building in the Westminster area was evacuated after a similar scare, and a postal sorting office in Liverpool was shut down for several hours after a white substance was seen leaking from a package. ``The bloke who was sorting it noticed the white powder coming from it and started waving it in the air, saying it was anthrax. But as he was waving it, the powder started to come out. The supervisor was called and the decision taken to evacuate,'' a postal worker said. On examination, the powder was found to be sand. Panic reactions were also reported from Scotland where nine staff members of The Scotsman were rushed to hospital after they touched a packet containing white powder. In Northern Ireland, two persons, who had handled a ``rogue'' packet, were given antibiotics. Anti-anthrax experts had a field day, attending to panic calls including one from St. Andrews University of Prince William fame - but not a single case was confirmed. The Government has appealed to the people to remain calm, and not over-react. Health staff is to be given detailed guidelines on how to detect symptoms of anthrax and treat them. The Home Office said everything was being done to protect vulnerable targets such as high-profile buildings and essential services.

Scotland Yard assured there was no intelligence of a ``specific threat'' of a biological or chemical attack but warned the public to be on their guard.

``If people are suspicious of anything they have received in the mail or by hand they should contact police,'' a spokesperson said. People said they were a little confused by what they thought were ``contradictory'' advice - not to panic and yet be on guard.

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