THE anthrax virus fear that has gripped the United States spread here yesterday afternoon with the discovery of a white powdery substance in an envelope sent to the Regional Education Officer of Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara).

Employees were ordered to evacuate the building at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara while Police and health officials dispatched to the scene proceeded gingerly to retrieve the envelope and powder dropped on the floor by a shocked secretary.

A health officer donned full protective gear to gather up the envelope and powder and Police and other agencies were late yesterday investigating whether this was a case of the deadly anthrax virus campaign started in the U.S.

The envelope was addressed to Regional Education Officer, Mr. Youman Singh and panic spread at around 13:15 hrs when Singh's Secretary, Ms. Vonda Accra opened the mail and discovered the "white powdery substance" inside.

Accra told the Chronicle that the white envelope addressed to her boss had two Guyana stamps which indicated that it was mailed locally.

She said that when she opened the envelope, as she normally does all mail addressed to Singh, only the white substance was inside.

The visibly shaken young lady said she was not looking at the envelope while opening it since she was chatting with another employee at the time.

"...and my friend said `What is that?' and when I look I saw the powdery substance on my dress," Accra recounted.

The secretary said she immediately went to the back of the building where there is a `stand pipe' and washed her skin and proceeded to wipe the white substance off her clothing.

She said she then informed Singh what had happened.

Singh said he, in turn called the hospital, which advised him to call the Narcotics Division at Police headquarters in Georgetown.

He said he was then advised to inform the nearby Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station.

Singh declined to speculate on the source of the suspicious mail or whether it was just a prank.

At about 16:00 hrs, officials from the Police Force, the Fire Department and the Health Ministry were in the building preparing to retrieve the envelope on the floor by Accra's desk.

Staff of the department had also been instructed to evacuate the building while the investigations were being conducted and the mail retrieved.

It took the Health Ministry officer about 15 minutes, with assistance from other investigating officials, to don the protective gear, which included gloves, face mask and body coat before retrieving the envelope from the floor.

The envelope was then sealed in a plastic bag and was taken away by Police for further testing.

The Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPO) since mid-last-month, has been on anthrax alert and has taken steps to prevent staff coming in contact with the possibly deadly bacteria, if it is sent here by mail.

GPO is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health on the campaign to prevent possible anthrax contamination through mail.

There was a recent anthrax scare at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport when Customs officers opened an express air package and found a white substance inside.

Checks later showed the substance was limestone dust, officials said.