 |
| Related News |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Anthrax Scares Impose Quarantining New Zealand's Mail |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
THU, OCT 18, 2001
|
|
|
International mail has been quarantined in the New Zealand's biggest city, Auckland, amid growing concern at the threat of the potentially deadly bacteria anthrax in the world, according to the Evening Post.
The Wellington-based newspaper said Thursday that 200,000 items of handwritten mail are being held, with another 150,000 expected to arrive later Thursday.
The alerts follow anthrax attacks in the United States. Chief Executive Elmar Toime of New Zealand Post was quoted as saying the company has decided to quarantine all international mail in Auckland because its security advisers are concerned about the threat. He said overseas mail will be held until advice is received from the appropriate authorities.
A company spokesman said that only handwritten overseas mail is being held up and bulk mail from identifiable sources still being processed.
Domestic mail deliveries have also been disrupted in Wellington,Christchurch, Palmerston North and Nelson by the discovery of letters containing suspicious white powder, according to the newspaper.
The letters containing the powder have been taken away in sealed plastic bags for testing. The chief executive of New Zealand Post was quoted as saying that he is confident powder found leaking from domestic mail is not anthrax.
|
|
|
