Pretoria | Tuesday
FORTY-four people were taken to a Pretoria hospital for tests after an anthrax scare at the University of South Africa on Monday, university representative Doreen Gough reported.
The first 20 examined all tested negative to the potentially fatal bacteria, as have those exposed to white powder in about a dozen previous scares in South Africa — at mail offices, aboard two South African Airways planes, at a school, a police station, and at various companies.
Those exposed to a white powder contained in mail address to the university were washed and treated at a decontamination area on campus before being taken to hospital.
“We do not want to assume that this is just another hoax,” Gough said. “We do not want to take such chances.”
In another anthrax scare on Monday, police in the eastern city of Pietermaritzburg were testing samples of a white powder that was found on the stairway and passageway at the KwaZulu-Natal department of water affairs and forestry.
In another incident two people were hospitalised after they had handled a suspicious letter at a North West post office.
Superintendent Pieter du Plessis said the Pudumoe Post Office employees were sent to Taung hospital after they received a letter claiming, “This is a warning to all the people of South Africa”.
They were discharged after treatment and the envelope were taken for tests.
National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi said at a news conference in Pretoria: “We (the SA Police Service) would like to reiterate our warning to those who disregard the law and make silly jokes about the anthrax scare. The (SA Police Service) will not hesitate to act decisively against anyone who makes hoaxes in this regard,” he said.
“Therefore, we urge the public not to panic, but to remain calm.”
He advised people not to handle suspected items themselves but to call the nearest police station.
Selebi said the law would take its full course to those found to be involved in the anthrax scares.
The 12 areas in which hoaxes occurred were Athlone, Table View police station, Durban International Airport, Vishoek Middew School, Atlantis Seven Eleven shop, Benoni Private dwelling, Speed Services in Kempton Park, Midrand SDD Business, Johannesburg International Airport, Claremont, Wonderboompoort in Pretoria and Rondebosch.
Positive cases of anthrax exposure have been reported in the United States and Kenya, but all other scares around the world have proved to be hoaxes. – AFP