Anthrax scare in Belfast

The parcel was found in the Falls Road area of west Belfast

Northern Ireland's chief medical officer has warned people to be vigilant after a woman received a parcel of white powder through the post in Belfast.

The woman and her grandchild have been treated with antibiotics as a precautionary measure after they handled the parcel.

It is understood it was sent to their house in the Falls Road area of west Belfast on Tuesday morning.

The woman alerted the police after receiving the parcel.

Etta Campbell: "There is no need to panic"

The police called the ambulance service and the fire brigade.

The Department of Health said the powder has been sent to England for analysis.

Northern Ireland Chief Medical Officer Dr Etta Campbell warned people in the province to be vigilant following a series of anthrax alerts throughout the UK.

But she said there was no need to panic.

"There is no indication at all that there is a particular risk to out population in Northern Ireland," she said.

"But anthrax can be treated easily. It is easily subjected to antibiotics. There is a vaccine. So people should not be concerned."

She added that anyone who received a suspicious package of unknown origin should not open it and should report it to the police.

She said anyone who has opened such a package and found suspicious white powder inside should contact the emergency services.

In London, UK Health Secretary Alan Milburn has warned the public not to panic about anthrax after a series of scares across the UK.

Incidents in the US, possibly linked to the 11 September terror attacks, have killed one man and infected three other people, but there have been no other confirmed cases of the disease outside America.

The Home Office said on Tuesday there was no intelligence to suggest there was a "specific threat" to Britain from biological or chemical attack.