BBC News Online: World: Africa

Kenya 'anthrax' letter negative

There have been several anthrax hoaxes around the world

The Kenyan health ministry said last week that the letter, reportedly sent via Atlanta in the US to a Kenyan citizen, had been tested positive for anthrax.

But a US embassy spokesman said on Wednesday: "After further testing of the Kenya sample... the initial positive result cannot be replicated or confirmed."

A statement reportedly released by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation said the material tested in Kenya may have been mildew or fungus.

A BBC correspondent in Nairobi says this would come as a major embarrassment to Health Minister Sam Ongeri.

However, the Kenyan health ministry said it had not been informed of subsequent findings contrary to its initial analysis.

"We have not seen the additional tests. Our position remains the same. We are not aware of new results," the ministry's director of medical services Richard Muga told AFP news agency.

Mounting concern about the US cases following the terrorist attacks on 11 September has triggered alerts and hoaxes around the world, with the Israeli parliament evacuated along with public buildings in Europe, Africa and New Zealand.

In the US, letters containing anthrax spores have been blamed for three deaths and at least 13 infections.

The US law enforcement agency has said there is no link between the anthrax scares and the terror attacks in the US that have left more than 5,000 people dead.