October 19, 2001	Friday	Shaba'an 1, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: A suspected case of anthrax was reported at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Thursday night, police and hospital doctors told Dawn.

The police said that the suspected victim, Mohammad Javed, who is a Pakistani employee at the British High Commission, opened an envelope, which had come through post, around 2.30pm and found some white powder in it. While attending the post, he made a physical contact with the powder.

Mr Javed informed his superiors about the incident, who immediately took him to Al-Shifa hospital for tests.

The high commission also informed the Secretariat police, which rushed a police party to the hospital and took him into its custody.

He was first taken to the Polyclinic hospital before being removed to Pims at around 8.00pm.

“I can confirm that a suspected case of anthrax has been brought to this hospital and has been admitted in the medical ward,” a doctor who chose anonymity said.

“I cannot say anything at this stage as we have not been provided with the reports of the tests conducted on him at a private hospital,” the doctor said. He said that no senior consultant had yet visited the suspected victim.

Asked whether the victim had any symptoms, the doctor said: “I can say that there are no symptoms of anthrax so far. But, the true picture would emerge only after we receive the reports.”

The doctor said that the patient has been admitted as a “precautionary measure” and won’t be allowed to go home till he was cleared.