Western Cape premier Peter Marais and 27 employees at the provincial legislature have been discharged from Cape Town’s Christian Barnard Memorial Hospital after fears that they had been exposed to anthrax.
They were rushed to the hospital on Thursday after a letter containing white powder was opened.
Hospital representative Elaine Gerber said the premier and his staff were treated for decontamination of anthrax.
”About 28 people went through the trauma unit at the hospital and have gone through decontamination for anthrax. Everything seems fine and results should be available within 48 to 72 hours,” Gerber said.
A representative for the provincial administration of the Western Cape, Charlene du Toit, said a registry clerk, working in the premier’s office, opened an envelope and discovered traces of white powder between the pages of a document.
”He showed the contents of the envelope to two staffers and they reported the matter to the police stationed in the Wale Street building,” Du Toit said.
”The premier’s offices were immediately cordoned off and two officers of the forensic and bomb disposal unit were sent to the area.”
The police then decontaminated the area and removed the envelope and its contents.
Du Toit said members of the metro emergency services were summoned. They took the 28 people, including the premier, to the hospital where they were all discharged after being given medication and information pamphlets.
Du Toit said the substance was being analysed by the police’s forensic laboratories and a result from Onderstepoort laboratories should be available early next week.
She said the premier, who went back to work after lunch, expressed concern for the safety of his staff and the disruption caused in his office.
Marais’ representative Riana Geldenhuys, who was also admitted, earlier said from the hospital they ”were all fine”.
The director-general of the Western Cape provincial administration, Gilbert Lawrence, on behalf of Marais, thanked officials from the police, emergency services and hospital for the professional and sensitive way in which the matter was handled. – Sapa