Amid the global fear on bio- terrorism, Thai authorities are investigating a letter containing white power suspected of being anthrax, the state-owned radio reported Wednesday.
The letter was received by a resident in Chon Buri Province, 100 kilometers south of Bangkok, earlier this week and sent to police for examination instantly.
Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan told press that the health and defense ministries will create a center on bio- terrorism as soon as possible.
The center, she said, would process intelligence about possible biological and chemical terror attacks, monitoring reports of anthrax cases nationwide, drafting a plan in case of an attack, and preparing medical treatment for an epidemic.
The Department of Medical Science was testing the white power found in that letter to determine whether it contained the deadly bacteria. The results will be announced later Wednesday.
(Xinhua News Agency 10/17/2001)
