PESHAWAR, Oct 25: The Peshawar district health authorities dispatched the envelop suspected of carrying anthrax and the ‘patient’ complaining to be affected by the bacteria to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad on Thursday, sources told Dawn.

“Though we are satisfied that the man is not affected by anthrax, still he along with the suspected envelop were dispatched in an ambulance on Thursday morning to NIH, Islamabad, for tests as a precautionary measure,” said Mr Javed Gandapur, the executive district officer (EDO), health, Peshawar.

The health department officer said that Saqib Inam, a youth from Peshawar, complaining skin itching was brought to the Lady Reading Hospital for treatment on Wednesday.

He informed the hospital authorities that he developed itching soon after touching the powder he received in a letter from Canada on Wednesday.

Necessary treatment was given to the complainant and his house servant who had handed him the wrapped envelop.

“Whereas the servant was discharged after necessary treatment on Wednesday, Saqib was kept under observation at the Bolton Block of LRH on Wednesday night,” said the executive district officer, adding that “ he is normal and has been shifted to National Institute of Health Islamabad as a precautionary measures”.

Rejecting the impression that the youth had had a contact with anthrax, Mr Javed Gandapur, referred the same to some psychological problems.