Anthrax scares hit Sri Lanka

The authorities in Sri Lanka say further anthrax scares have been reported in the capital, Colombo.

Officials from the French embassy said a member of staff was treated with antibiotics as a precautionary measure after the embassy received an envelope containing white powder.

Suspicious letters were also received by the Indian High Commission. Neither mission would say to whom the letters were addressed, nor give details of the postmarks.

Staff at the US and Australian missions in Colombo were tested last Friday for the potentially fatal bacteria after opening mail containing a white granular substance, but the results of the tests are not yet known.

Last week Sri Lanka appointed a panel to deal with possible biological warfare attacks following a number of anthrax cases in the US.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service