Ghana is not under anthrax threat - Ghana Post

Mr Issac Adu Boahen, Managing Director of Ghana Post Company Limited, on Tuesday said there is no immediate threat of anthrax infection in the country through the mails.

"We have put in place measures to curb any threat of the disease, but we must avoid creating a panic situation," he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra.

Mr Adu Boahen said postal officials have detected no suspicious case."We are, however, leaving no stone unturned in treating all in-coming mails from specific locations with special attention," he said.

Mr Adu Boahen advised the media to guard against sensationalism that may lay the ground for unscrupulous people to send hoaxes around to create panic.

He assured members of the public that everything is under control. "As far as we are aware there is no threat whatsoever," he said.

Scores of suspected cases of anthrax have been reported in the United States with three deaths in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington and the bombardment of Afghanistan by the US. There was a suspected case through the mail in Nairobi, but a second test proved negative.

Mr Adu Boahen said in all situations mails are difficult to monitor and people should be wary of certain letters they receive.

The Postmaster General said mails with suspicious addresses or with inscriptions like "special", "confidential" or from places where the recipients have no contact should be properly scrutinised before they are opened.

He said the anthrax spore, which is very small might escape detection.Mr Adu Boahen said any suspicious substance found in letters must be handed over to the health authorities.