Three people who worked in buildings in the United States where anthrax has been discovered are now in Britain where they are being tested for the potentially deadly disease.
To date, three co-workers are known to be in the UK, two from the Florida building and one from the Rockefeller Centre building, and are, on a precautionary basis, being tested here, the Department of Health said in a statement.
The measure was taken after British health officals liaised with their counterparts in the United States, the statement said. It did not give the nationality of the three.
Four people have been exposed to anthrax in the United States since the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, raising fears the country was the target of germ warfare.
While none of the cases has been tied to Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the attacks, US Vice President Dick Cheney has said there could be links.
Meanwhile a second letter sent to the news division of US broadcaster NBC contained powder which has tested positive for traces of anthrax, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said today.
AFP &