Anthrax scare at US embassy
The US Embassy in the Netherlands had an anthrax scare when a package of white powder arrived at the building - but laboratory tests proved negative for the deadly bacterium.
‘‘Everyone is safe and sound,’’ embassy spokeswoman Angier Peavy said, adding that no one received medical treatment. Earlier, Dutch television reported that three embassy guards were given antibiotics.
Peavy said Dutch officials ‘‘removed a white powdery substance’’ from the building. Tests showed ‘‘it definitely is not anthrax,’’ and the embassy would open today as usual.
Anthrax, a bacterium once developed for biological warfare, is now seen as a possible terrorist weapon of mass murder.
Fears of anthrax infections spread after an American from Florida died of the infection last week. A third case of anthrax has been confirmed in Florida, and US authorities were treating the outbreak as a criminal investigation.
Anthrax scares have been reported in several US. cities and in other countries in recent days.
