In pictures: anthrax alert

As an eighth person is diagnosed with anthrax in the US and reports of tainted letters emerge in Africa and South America, emergency services are on the alert worldwide.

Brazilian firefighters collect a suspect envelope which later proves to be harmless

Four people have tested positive for anthrax exposure in Kenya

At the US Congress, workers were tested for anthrax exposure after a contaminated letter arrived

Argentina intercepted a contaminated letter before it reached its destination

Emergency services across Europe have been in training

Japan has had scares too, including on a Tokyo train

And Russians remember anthrax victims from an accident 22 years ago