Australia alarm over anthrax threat

Australia protesters march on the U.S. Consulate in Sydney to voice their disapproval at the war in Afghanistan

SYDNEY, Australia -- Australian political leaders have called for calm as fears over possible bio-chemical attacks resulted in several evacuations, including government and media organizations and an American consulate.

The U.S. consulate-general in Melbourne was evacuated briefly after a suspicious package was found.

Similar incidents caused disruptions at the Australian Taxation Office in Canberra, a Melbourne newspaper and a Sydney suburban post office.

Six suspicious parcels containing powdery substances were seized in the Queensland cities of Brisbane and Townsville. A letter with a powdery substance was reportedly found at the British consulate in Brisbane.

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In total, 26 people underwent decontamination after the bio-chemical scares along Australia's populated eastern seaboard. No one has yet been found to be contaminated.

A dozen cases of anthrax have been detected in recent days in the United States, with suspicion centering on terrorists being responsible for contaminating mail.

With Australia a strong supporter of U.S. and British airstrikes in Afghanistan, the country has been placed on high alert for possible retaliatory terrorist attacks.

RESOURCES Get more information on anthrax from the U.S. CDC    Facts about anthrax Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The spore produces a toxin that can be fatal. How it spreads: The spores can spread by inhalation or ingestion. Symptoms: Symptoms usually appear within seven days. Inhalation anthrax infection can start out like a common cold before acute symptoms such as severe breathing problems and shock. Infection by consuming contaminated food is characterized by inflammation of the intestinal tract, leading to vomiting of blood and severe diarrhea. Death can occur within 24 hours of the onset of acute symptoms. Treatment: Antibiotics, including penicillin. A delay in the use of antibiotics -- even in terms of hours -- may lessen chances for survival. Prevention: Vaccine Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

But while Australia Post workers consider adopting protective clothing to handle mail deliveries, politicians have insisted there was no need to panic.

"I think it's important that we don't start leaping at shadows," New South Wales state Premier Bob Carr told reporters.

"We need to take every precaution, we need to be ever-alert, but we shouldn't go into panic mode without having things properly looked at," Carr said.

Explosives suspected

U.S. Consulate General David Lyon said 40 staff were evacuated as a precaution after an envelope found to have a mysterious residue arrived at the diplomatic outpost.

Workers from other organizations in the same building also were evacuated, he said.

Lyon said the thick envelope had been hand-delivered to a consulate guard by an unidentified person claiming to be "in a great rush."

"We screened it a number of different ways and one of those screenings indicated the possibility of explosives," Lyon told The Associated Press.

"We called the police ... they recommended that we evacuate the area ... just to be on the safe rather than the sorry side," he added.

A police spokesman said the package was found to be harmless, but would not give further details.

Appeal for calm

Also in Melbourne, a newspaper office was evacuated when a suspicious envelope was found. Police were trying to determine the contents of the letter.

A police spokesman said two floors of the Herald and Weekly Times building had been evacuated and a section of a road near the building was cordoned off as a precaution.

Some 17 workers at the site were decontaminated before being briefed by doctors, but no one was suffering any the effects of exposure to the substance, the spokesman said. Results of tests on the substance would not be known for 24 to 48 hours

In Canberra, about 80 staff were evacuated for several hours from the second floor of the Australian Taxation Office after reports that a suspicious envelope had been found.

"The envelope, delivered by courier, contained a powdery substance," a police spokeswoman told Reuters news agency.

Part of the departures hall at Sydney's international airport was shut on Sunday after the discovery of white powder in a stationery box. It proved to be a false alarm.

In the northeastern city of Townsville, health authorities began investigating a possible case of anthrax, while two buildings were evacuated after mail containing a suspicious white powder was received.

Officials said three people who came in contact with the powder had been taken to hospitals as a precaution. Tests on the powder were continuing, police said.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said there was no need to panic.

"I just ask the community to be calm about this," he said.

"The appropriate responses are in place."