Official sources have not ruled out the possibility that Egypt could be a target of an anthrax attack like those aimed at the US.
Egypt has extended its security measures in Cairo and other major cities to avoid any possible attack using the infectous bacteria.
Egyptian sources were quoted by the Middle East Newsline (MENL) as saying that authorities were increasing safety measures, which included reinforcement of troops and police around government offices and other vital installations.
Last week, the Egyptian government seized six letters of unknown origin containing ground animal meat and intestines, on the suspicion they might contain anthrax.
Samples were taken from the six letters' contents for lab tests to make sure they were free of anthrax spores.
The director general of Alexandria Port quarantine, Tareq Al Wakil, was quoted by the daily Al Gomhuria as saying that “the letters won’t be released until analysis confirms they are free from the bacteria which causes anthrax infection.”
Wakil added that “Minister of Health Ismael Sallam has instructed us to seize any incoming mail to Egypt ports which contains animal hair, wool, intestines, horns, ground bones, leather or fresh or dried blood and not to release it until laboratory tests for anthrax bacteria are carried out and contamination is ruled out.”
According to the official, four of the letters in question contained intestines and were sent from New Zealand, Ireland, Italy and Lebanon in addition to two letters containing ground bones that came from the US.
So far, the anthrax scare in the region has also reached Lebanon, Yemen, Morocco and Bahrain.
On Sunday, Ain Shams University held a seminar on anthrax and terrorism. Those present discussed the technical aspects of anthrax as well as the danger of the agent being used in a terrorist attack – Albawaba.com
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