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| Anthrax Cases in U.S. Spark Fear in Latin America |
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THU, OCT 18, 2001
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Widespread fear caused by recent anthrax cases in the United states are causing major concerns in Latin American countries.
In Panama, letters suspected of containing the anthrax spore were isolated on Wednesday and the envelopes have been submitted to special examination by local laboratories. A special team has been set up to analyze suspicious letters.
In Bogota, Colombia's vice Health Minister David Bersh said on the same day that his country is prepared to cope with the appearance of the fatal bacteria in South America.
Colombian parcel post companies have reinforced their security systems to prevent mail from being used as a means to distribute dangerous substances, he said.
In San Jose, Costa Rica, health authorities recommend people take precautions in the face of a possible appearance of anthrax in the Central American country.
The alert spread among health and public security authorities in the Juan Santamaria International Airport of Costa Rica. A Mexico-bound flight was suspended because a homeopathic medicine flask was suspected of being anthrax contaminated.
Similar cases have been reported in other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
A Salvadoran hotel manager in Usulutan received a letter five days ago containing a strange substance. He also developed symptoms such as fever and vomiting on Wednesday. The 32-year-old is under observation, local medical sources were quoted as saying on Wednesday.
A flight of the Brazilian flag carrier Varig was stopped on Wednesday at Sao Paulo's Congonhas airport after maintenance personnel found a package containing unidentified white dust on board the plane.
The U.S. authorities indicated that there was no evidence to link the anthrax cases reported in its territory with the international spread.
In Ecuador, strict control measures for international mail were put into effect. In Chile, post personnel demanded to be provided with necessary means to protect themselves and it was reported a suspicious letter was sent to the U.S. Embassy in Santiago.
From Bolivia's capital of La Paz, it was said a letter with white dust was left in a central square of the city and another one was sent to a news agency.
In Managua, Nicaragua, Patricio Rojas, a representative of the Pan-American Health Organization, suggested everyone keep calm in the face of fears that the anthrax diffusion is intentional and could affect other countries.
In nearly all the Latin American and Caribbean countries, a state of epidemiological alert has been issued as part of preventive measures to avoid the spread of anthrax in their territory.
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