Anthrax scare spreads to Australia

A BBC Asia-Pacific report arrives, October 15, headed: "Australia hit by anthrax scares." On the same day come reports from the United States of more suspected victims, after one man died a week earlier in Florida. In Britain, the government's chief medical officer, Liam Donaldson, high-lighted the dangers of chemical and biological attacks on his return from a visit to the US.

In spite of the one death and the small number of confirmed cases now being treated in the US, there are some observers who say that the possibility of a panic reaction would be a gift to anyone orchestrating terrorist attacks (writes Angus Birch).

Some American agencies were pondering the fact that the death, and two of the suspect cases, involved employees of the National Inquirer, at its offices in Florida. It has been pointed out that the newspaper has many critics -not necessarily in religious groups.

While the political and military implications are being closely examined, all health authorities appear to be doing their best to prevent panic, assuring people that stores of antibiotics are available.