ISLAMABAD, Nov 4: National Institute of Health (NIH), has received 15 samples of suspected anthrax exposure for testing, since the first reports of anthrax scare hit the country, but none have been confirmed positive so far, investigations by Dawn revealed.

National Institute of Health (NIH), executive-director Dr Athar Saeed Dil, said seven completed tests of suspected anthrax exposure samples received from different parts of the country were negative and none of the persons were found to be infected with the deadly disease so far.

Suspected anthrax exposure samples are pouring in for testing at the NIH at an average of one case per day, officials said.

The government has formed a committee in the interior ministry to investigate, monitor and coordinate the public health response to possible bio-terrorism attacks in the country.

The director-general, crisis management cell, Brig (Rtd) Javed Cheema, informed that the committee comprised members of the interior and health ministries as well as experts.

The committee directed the health ministry to formulate a public response protocol. He said, the protocol was developed and had been issued to government departments, ministries and organizations.

It has also issued instructions to the postal authorities to exercise care in handling mail and isolate the suspected packets by taking note of any abnormal pattern including checking for stains of different kinds, officials said.

Cheema said anthrax scare is not alarming at the moment but authorities have taken appropriate measures to meet with any crisis situation.

Dr Dil said NIH has received suspected anthrax samples from the Kenyan embassy, two from the British High Commission, a local hotel in Islamabad and from Peshawar and Karachi. “We are not saying no to any samples. We can’t say no to anyone who suspects that he or she has been exposed to anthrax.”

The NIH is carrying out special tests on suspected cases of anthrax referred to it. “We are carrying out three kinds of tests including direct smear tests, microscopy and even guinea pig inoculation.”

Responding to a question about confirmation of a case of anthrax by some senior Pakistani officials, executive director NIH said: “The senior Pakistani officials have only confirmed the occurrence of three “suspected anthrax exposures.”

Dr Dil advised the suspected exposed person(s) to start a dose of antibiotics after consultation with a doctor as a precautionary measure. “There are 50 per cent chances either way if the suspected powder has germs of anthrax or if it is just a hoax.”

Antibiotics like tetracycline, vibramycine and penicillin are advised to patients initially until the cases are confirmed, he said.

Dr Dil said NIH was the government body which could confirm or deny the presence of anthrax. “We would like Agha Khan Hospital to send us the suspected samples for carrying out the tests at NIH.” World Health Organisation (WHO), spokesperson, Shehzad Alam, said it is providing technical assistance to the Pakistani health authorities for carrying out the tests.

According to WHO, anthrax is curable following a correct and rapid diagnosis. It is not possible to catch inhalation anthrax from another person.