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Preliminary Examination Results Indicate Possible Anthrax in Mailbags

October 31, 2001

Vilnius, October 31—The Embassy of the United States of America in Vilnius has been informed that preliminary results of the examination of embassy mailbags by the Microbiology Laboratory of the Vilnius Public Health Center indicate that trace amounts of what appears to be anthrax were present in two of the five mailbags sent to the laboratory for examination. Because other bacilli resemble anthrax, a final determination can only be made when the samples are cultured. This requires from 48 to 72 hours.

The State Department in Washington has been informed of this preliminary result. The embassy mailroom is sealed until we receive instructions about cleaning and decontamination procedures. Meanwhile, embassy employees have been informed of all actions taken and antibiotics will be provided to any employee of the embassy who wishes to take them.