THE suspicious envelope containing a white powdery substance which was discovered here Wednesday afternoon has been sent to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States for tests to determine if it contains the deadly anthrax bacteria.

Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said the specimen has been sent to the CDC through the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) in Trinidad for tests and analysis.

He said results from the last specimen sent through CAREC for testing were received in three days.

The anthrax fear that has gripped the U.S. spread here Wednesday with the discovery of a white powdery substance in an envelope sent to the Regional Education Officer of Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara).

Employees were ordered to evacuate the building at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara while Police and fire officials dispatched to the scene proceeded gingerly to retrieve the envelope and powder dropped on the floor by a shocked secretary.

The envelope, posted locally, was addressed to Regional Education Officer, Mr. Youman Singh and panic spread at around 13:25 hrs when Singh's Secretary, Ms. Vonda Accra opened the mail and discovered the "white powdery substance" inside.

Some of the substance fell on her dress and Accra rushed to wash her skin and wipe the power off her clothes.

Singh told the Chronicle that Regional Health Officer of Region Three, Ms. Holly Alexander visited the department yesterday afternoon.

He assured that everything was "back to normal" and routine duties were being carried out in more or less the same way as before. He, however, noted that his Secretary took yesterday off from work.

It is understood she was given antibiotics by Alexander but Singh pointed out this was just a precautionary measure and there was nothing to be alarmed about at this point in time.

Ramsammy said this is part of the response mechanism. "We assume that anyone exposed to these powders are exposed...", he pointed out.

Officials said there are two sets of response mechanisms - to retrieve the suspicious specimen, and to test the sample and treat the people around it at the time.

"We assume all the time that people are exposed so we treat them...even though we have so far nothing to seriously think that there is a problem especially since it is local postage," the Health Minister said.

"Guyana does not have the technology to produce anthrax spores, so it is unlikely that's what we are dealing with; it is likely that the whole circumstances of this case are likely to be another hoax," he said.

"I gave an assurance earlier and I am still reiterating that assurance that people need not be afraid. We do not have the technology here to produce it and even if it does comes from abroad we have a mechanism in place for rapid response and for treatment," Ramsammy said.

He said Guyana has adequate supplies of the three antibiotics, Penicillin, Ciprofloxin and Dexycyclin, which have been generally used to treat anthrax over the past three years.

He noted too that once people are treated in time, exposure will not lead to serious problems.

"The important thing is to treat people on time and since we are not waiting for the test results before treating people, it means people are getting immediate attention," he said.

"...so there is no need for people to panic."

He also noted that CDC is the only place that can do a thorough test and analysis to ascertain whether the latest suspicious specimen actually has the anthrax bacteria.

There was no facility in the Caribbean for such testing, the minister said.

CAREC is a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) funded institution to provide specialised medical testing as may be required by member states.

Ramsammy said this was the 11th specimen Guyana has sent through CAREC for testing recently, all of which proved negative for the anthrax bacteria. He said most of these were from mail posted locally and deplored the "false alarms" and "hoax".

He appealed to "mischief makers" not to play such pranks because "it is not a funny thing (since) it takes a lot of our time and resources".

He explained that while it does not cost much to pay for the testing, the cases tap into the resources in terms of personnel going to the scene to retrieve suspicious specimens and responding to "hoax alarms", among other factors.

It was a Fire Officer and not a Health Ministry official who Wednesday donned protective gear to gather up the envelope and powder which was handed over to the Police, who in turn handed it over to officials of the Health Ministry.

The suspicious envelope was retrieved by fire official Mr. Winston McGregor who was dressed in full protective gear. Ramsammy mistakenly informed the Chronicle Wednesday night that it was a Health Ministry official who had done the job and apologised yesterday for the error.

He, however, pointed out that "the idea was for the firemen to take that responsibility of retrieving the specimen. Initially the Ministry of Health did it because nobody else wanted to do it, but I am glad to see that the Fire Department is on board now."

Mr. Carlyle Washington, acting Chief Fire Officer said the Police sought help from the Fire Department Wednesday afternoon to retrieve the mail since the Police do not have the necessary "protective outfit" to deal with a situation like that.

He said the Fire Department has the `disaster-ready' suits, referring to the coat, gloves and facial mask among other apparatus.

Washington noted too that his department normally works in collaboration with the Police when situations like these arose.

Ramsammy pointed out that anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus Anthracis that likes to live in soil.