Anthrax probe into Washington deaths

The deaths of two postal workers who handled mail for the US Congress in Washington DC are being investigated by US health officials looking into an anthrax outbreak.

Their bodies are being tested for anthrax symptoms amid circumstances described by health officials as "highly suspicious".

Our index of suspicion is very high

Dr Ivan Walks, head of Washington Health Department

The revelation came as US authorities confirmed that a second postal worker had tested positive for anthrax infection in the city, bringing the number of cases of infection nationwide to 10.

The new victim, who has not been named, has the inhaled form of the disease.

Of the cases of anthrax that have now been identified in the US, six are skin anthrax and four are the more serious inhalation anthrax.

One man has died as a result of anthrax inhalation.

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The head of Washington Health Department, Dr Ivan Walks, said that the two dead men had both worked at the Brentwood postal facility in Washington.

He called on their colleagues to report in for tests.

"Anyone who was working in that back postal area during the last 11 days, you must today immediately come here... to receive prophylactic medication and to be evaluated," Dr Walks said.

There are in all about 2,000 employees at the Brentwood postal facility, a company official said.